This week in Other Barks & Bites: Senators Thom Tillis and Patrick Leahy ask the USPTO’s Drew Hirshfeld what the agency will do to enforce patent disclosure requirements at other federal agencies on patent applicants; the Fifth Circuit affirms sovereign immunity for Texas A&M’s athletic department but nixes a qualified immunity defense for a media relations director involved in unauthorized online republication of a copyrighted book excerpt; Judge Lucy Koh is nominated by President Biden to serve on the Ninth Circuit; the European Court of Justice rules that the protected designation of origin covering French champagne may be enforced against a Spanish tapas bar operator using champagne in its name and logo if the use causes consumer confusion; the Ninth Circuit reiterates that de minimis copying is not a defense to copyright infringement; increased scrutiny by Chinese regulators over restrictions to child online gaming sends shares of Tencent and NetEase down; and HHS Secretary Becerra outlines a proposal to reduce drug prices that includes plans to have the FDA and USPTO collaborate on efforts to eliminate drug companies’ ability to artificially extend market exclusivity after patent expiry.

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