Critical Findings

Articles on intellectual property litigation, software and trade-secret disputes, patents, trademarks, and AI-related IP.

8 min read

Suing for Breach of Contract in Illinois: Deadlines, Damages, and What to Expect

How breach of contract cases actually work in Illinois: the four elements, the 10-year and 5-year deadlines, what you can recover, and an honest look at timelines and costs.

Breach of ContractBusiness LitigationCommercial LitigationIllinois LawDamagesChicago
9 min read

Can My HOA Foreclose on My Condo in Illinois? What Unit Owners Need to Know

Yes, an Illinois condo association can foreclose over unpaid assessments, but only through the courts. We explain the lien, the 30-day demand, and the defenses unit owners actually have.

HOA DisputesHOA ForeclosureCondominium LawIllinois LawCondominium Property ActAssessmentsChicago
9 min read

How to Challenge an HOA Special Assessment in Illinois

Hit with a large special assessment? Illinois condo owners have specific tools to fight back, including the 115% rule, the two-thirds vote for additions, and records requests. The deadlines are short.

HOA DisputesSpecial AssessmentsCondominium LawIllinois LawCondominium Property ActUnit Owner RightsChicago
9 min read

A Departing Employee Took Your Source Code: Trade Secret Claims in Illinois

When an employee leaves with source code, customer data, or your product roadmap, Illinois companies have two powerful statutes to work with. What the DTSA and ITSA require, and why the first 72 hours matter.

Trade SecretsSoftware LitigationDTSAIllinois Trade Secrets ActStartupsIP LitigationTechnologyEmployment
9 min read

Sued in a Schedule A Case? What Online Sellers Should Do When Their Accounts Get Frozen

Your marketplace account was frozen and you have been named in a Schedule A trademark lawsuit in Chicago federal court. Here are your options, your deadlines, and the defenses that work.

Schedule A LitigationTrademark InfringementIP LitigationNorthern District of IllinoisE-CommerceAsset FreezeOnline Sellers
9 min read

Do You Have a Claim Against Your HOA? An Illinois Condo Owner's Guide

Illinois condo owners have real protections under the Condominium Property Act. We break down four common claims against an HOA board and your options.

HOA DisputesCondominium LawIllinois LawCondominium Property ActUnit Owner RightsReal EstateChicago
8 min read

Your Schedule A Case Just Got Harder: What Chrome Hearts Means for Brand Owners

A new NDIL ruling severs defendants from a Schedule A trademark case. What brand owners need to know about joinder limits in online counterfeiting enforcement.

Trademark InfringementIP LitigationSchedule A LitigationCounterfeitingNorthern District of IllinoisTrademark EnforcementBusiness Law
19 min read

Who Owns AI-Generated Content? Copyright Law and Artificial Intelligence in 2026

Can you copyright AI-generated content? We break down the human authorship requirement, the Copyright Office's 2025 guidance, and practical steps Illinois businesses should take.

Artificial IntelligenceCopyrightSoftware LitigationIP LawCopyright RegistrationBusiness LawIllinois
7 min read

Illinois Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: What Chicago Residents Need to Know in 2026

The two-year deadline for Illinois personal injury claims, the exceptions that shorten or extend it, and how the state's more-than-50% comparative fault rule affects your recovery.

Personal InjuryIllinois LawStatute of LimitationsChicago
7 min read

How to File a Workplace Discrimination Claim in Illinois: EEOC vs. IDHR

Illinois workers now have two years to file most discrimination charges with the IDHR, but only 300 days for the EEOC. How the two systems differ, and how to choose between them.

Employment LawDiscriminationIllinois LawTitle VIIIllinois Human Rights ActChicago
8 min read

Protecting Your Startup's Intellectual Property in Chicago: Patents, Trademarks, and Trade Secrets

A practical guide for Chicago startups on building an IP foundation from day one: when patents make sense, why trademarks come first, how trade secrets actually get protected, and the cofounder mistake that kills deals.

Intellectual PropertyStartupsTrade SecretsTrademarksPatentsChicagoTechnology
8 min read

The Illinois Real Estate Disclosure Act: A Buyer's Guide to Hidden Defects

What Illinois sellers must disclose, the remedies buyers have when they hide defects, and the one-year deadline that catches buyers off guard. A practical guide for Chicago-area home purchases.

Real EstateIllinois LawProperty DefectsChicagoBuyer Rights
2 min read

Welcome to Critical Findings

Introducing Critical Findings, a blog covering intellectual property litigation, patent and trademark litigation, software and trade-secret litigation, AI-related IP disputes, and the intersection of law and software development.

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