DLM LAW

The attorneys at DLM LAW have represented inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and business owners in complex legal disputes for nearly three decades.

Patent Invalidity Ends “Smart Thermostat” Infringement Dispute

A reminder that even strong infringement claims can vanish if the underlying patent doesn’t hold up. Causam Enterprises v. International Trade Commission, 2025 WL 2919058 (Fed. Cir. 2025) In this Federal Circuit case, Causam Enterprises sued the International Trade Commission, claiming that imported “smart thermostat” products infringed on its energy-management patent. The Commission ruled there […]

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Noncompete Agreements Only Work When They’re Written Right

A Wisconsin federal court recently reminded us that noncompete agreements are only as strong as their drafting and structure. In Hribar Transport LLC v. Slegers, the trucking company sued a former employee, claiming he breached a noncompete clause by forming a competing logistics business and taking customers. The employee, however, argued that his contract had

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Fourth Circuit Revives Wage-Fixing Case Against U.S. Naval Shipbuilders

Alleged “no-poach” agreements highlight risks for employers relying on shared labor pools. A recent decision from the Fourth Circuit reinstated a proposed class action against several major U.S. naval shipbuilders, including General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls. The case involves allegations that these companies conspired with consulting firms to suppress wages of engineers and architects through

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Why Clear Contracts Are Critical in Software Licensing Deals

When two businesses collaborate to bring a tech solution to market, clearly written contracts are the best protection. That’s the takeaway from Baldwin Hackett and Meeks, Inc. v. Early Warning Services, LLC, a recent case from the Eighth Circuit involving a failed software licensing relationship. Nebraska-based software firm Baldwin Hackett and Meeks, Inc. (BHMI) had

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