Can an unregistered work be enforced in U.S. courts? This article explains when U.S. copyright registration is required, how “United States works” are defined, and what courts say about foreign and online publications.

The types of immigration bonds most commonly confused include: Delivery Bond, Voluntary Departure Bond, and Order of Supervision Bond. In recent years, the CeBONDS (Cash Electronic Bonds Online) system introduced by ICE has further changed the methods by which bonds may be posted.

Involvement in patent, trademark, or copyright infringement litigation in U.S. federal courts makes settlement an ever-present option. Settlement is not a sign of weakness, but an expression of commercial rationality—exchanging controllable costs for certainty.

After your immigration application is denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), disappointment is certainly understandable, but it does not mean the matter is over. You still have the opportunity to request that USCIS review your case again through two procedures: a Motion to Reconsider and a Motion to Reopen.

The three immigration waivers—I-601, I-601A, and I-212—provide possible pathways for resolving immigration problems that may initially appear insurmountable, but they are by no means easy to obtain. All waivers require substantial supporting evidence, particularly detailed proof of family extreme hardship, often spanning medical, financial, emotional, and other dimensions.

In NDIL IP cases, ex parte TROs commonly require a TRO Bond, but the amount is often symbolic, typically USD 5,000–10,000, regardless of defendant count. Although Rule 65(c) allows recovery for wrongful injunctions, actual compensation from the TRO Bond is extremely rare in practice.

Statutory damages for intellectual property infringement—such as patent, copyright, and trademark infringement—are established under U.S. federal law. The amount varies depending on the specific circumstances of the infringement (for example, whether the infringement was willful or innocent) and the type of intellectual property right infringed.

A Section 337 investigation conducted by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is a quasi-judicial proceeding that addresses unfair trade practices related primarily to intellectual property (IP) infringement involving imported products. This analysis covers the Section 337 investigation process, strategies of complainants and respondents, filing requirements, and hearing procedures.

In the process of applying for U.S. lawful permanent resident status (green card), whether your Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) is accepted depends on whether a visa number is available for your immigration category—i.e., whether your priority date is current.

If the applicant’s spouse was born in a different country, the applicant may choose to use the spouse’s country of birth for visa chargeability. This is known as “cross-chargeability” or “using the spouse’s country of birth” strategy.

Under U.S. immigration law, biological children, stepchildren, adopted children, and illegitimate children generally enjoy the same immigration benefits, though some distinctions apply in specific circumstances.

With the widespread application of generative artificial intelligence in fields such as creation, design, and content generation, the works it produces have posed unprecedented challenges to the existing U.S. patent, trademark, and copyright systems. At the same time, AI companies’ massive collection and use of materials in the training of large language models has triggered intense legal disputes concerning copyright infringement and fair use.

The EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) is a preferred U.S. employment-based immigration option for highly qualified professionals because it does not require employer sponsorship and offers procedural flexibility. Applicants must both qualify under the EB-2 category and satisfy a three-pronged national interest test.

In the context of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), takedown notices are only applicable to copyright infringement—not trademark infringement. Therefore, if a party sends a DMCA takedown notice based on a trademark claim, such notice is legally inapplicable and invalid.

Remarriage while a VAWA Petition is pending: If a VAWA self-petitioner remarries before Form I-360 approval, the petition must be denied by regulation, ending VAWA eligibility.

This article provides a comprehensive explanation of the role, scope of responsibilities, and specific procedures for seeking assistance from the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), which operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The iRhythm and Dabico decisions demonstrate how PTAB is evolving to prioritize procedural fairness and administrative efficiency by anchoring its discretion in the Settled Expectations doctrine. This development raises the bar for late-stage invalidity petitions and urges petitioners to act strategically and with urgency. Moving forward, this doctrine is likely to stand alongside the Fintiv framework as a decisive tool for discretionary denial.

Drawing from litigation trends in U.S. federal courts, particularly those involving global platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Alibaba, this report outlines both the obstacles to effective enforcement and the emerging legal tools—such as Schedule A lawsuits, electronic service, and asset freezing orders—used to protect IP rights. 

A USCIS denial can be discouraging, but it is not the end. You may still request a Motion to Reconsider or a Motion to Reopen, allowing USCIS to review its prior decision.

CSPA age calculation is now based on Chart A.