Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, June 2022An eclectic gathering of recent intellectual property developments.
Seventh Circuit Opinion Correctly Decides the Wrong Law?By Phillip R. Van NessIntellectual Property, June 2022The K.F.C. v Snap, Inc., No. 21-2247 (7th Cir. March 24, 2022), court made the correct decision, although with puzzling implications. When and how should arbitration contract formation be evaluated?
The Status of Interactions With RospatentBy Margo Lynn Hablutzel, J.D.Intellectual Property, June 2022Russia invaded Ukraine. The United States, the EU, and other nations sanctioned Russia. On March 22, 2022, the USPTO terminated engagement with Rospatent, Belarus IP Office, and the Eurasian Patent Organization.
Respecting Powerful Words—Names and PronounsBy Daniel KeganElder Law, April 2022We have a long tradition of respecting the power of words. Trademark law has long prohibited calling your product or service a name confusingly similar to that of another. But there is little law against calling someone a name they dislike. Just as US census forms have broadened from dichotomous White and Black to multiple categories, the differences between sex and gender and the non-binary nature of both are increasingly recognized. Terminology with the health care field and transgender and gender nonconforming communities is constantly evolving. The existence of transgender individuals is recognized by mainstream organizations. Suggestions for internal firm procedures are presented. The Golden Rule is insufficient.
Copyright Derivative Works and Section 203: A Tale of Two PhanaticsBy Margo Lynn HablutzelIntellectual Property, March 2022Is a baseball mascot merely a costume, a work of art, or something else? If the artist wants to reclaim the copyright, can the team use a derivative version of the original design after the termination of its license in the original, and how does when the new mascot was created interact with the Copyright Act’s termination provision?
Copyright Small Claims Court: It’s Almost ReadyBy Beverly A. BernemanIntellectual Property, March 2022On December 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act). The CASE Act establishes a small claims court for copyright infringement cases. The law requires the Copyright Office to establish a Copyright Claims Board within one year to hear the claims.
Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, March 2022An eclectic gathering of recent intellectual property developments.
IP Rights Enforcement in CanadaBy Adam Haller, Caroline Henrie, & Kristin WallIntellectual Property, March 2022This article discusses venues and jurisdiction for enforcement; discovery and obtaining evidence of infringement; trial decision-maker; structure of the trial; infringement and defenses for patents, trademarks, copyrights; time to first-level decision; remedies pre-trial and post-trial; appellate review; alternatives to litigation.
The New Trademark Modernization Act: Its Impact on Foreign Trademark OwnersBy Stacey C. KalamarasIntellectual Property, March 2022The Trademark Modernization Act ("TMA") was signed into law on December 27, 2020, to address the increase in fraudulent trademark filings by foreign trademark owners, many of which reside in China. The TMA amends the Trademark Act and became mostly effective at the USPTO on December 18, 2021. These changes will have a tremendous impact on the integrity of the US trademark registry. The TMA’s sweeping changes will have the greatest impact on foreign trademark owners, who are allowed to apply to register trademarks in the US without first demonstrating use in commerce.
Expedited Changes Coming to the Canadian Trademark Office: A Comparative Overview With the U.S. SystemBy Alice DenenbergInternational and Immigration Law, December 2021In summer 2019 Canada updated its trademark laws, adopted the Nice Classification System, and joined the Madrid Protocol, enabling Canada to be designated in an international registration. However, even before these changes, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office was plagued with examination delays exasperating both attorneys and IP owners.
Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, December 2021An eclectic gathering of recent intellectual property developments.
Respecting Powerful Words—Names and PronounsBy Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, December 2021We have a long tradition of respecting the power of words. Trademark law has long prohibited calling your product or service a name confusingly similar to that of another. But there is little law against calling someone a name they dislike. Just as US census forms have broadened from dichotomous White and Black to multiple categories, the differences between sex and gender and the non-binary nature of both are increasingly recognized. Terminology with the health care field and transgender and gender nonconforming communities is constantly evolving. The existence of transgender individuals is recognized by mainstream organizations. Suggestions for internal firm procedures are presented. The Golden Rule is insufficient.
SAG-AFTRA Welcomes InfluencersBy Beverly A. BernemanIntellectual Property, December 2021“Influencers” are a growing group of performers who use social media to affect purchasing decisions of others through their knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. Influencers often create content that is unique and attention-grabbing. SAG-AFTRA is the union for movie, television and radio performers. Membership in SAG-AFTRA comes with attractive benefits for performers. SAG-AFTRA is now allowing influencers to become members of the union. An influencer’s on-camera (audio and/or video) performances in the content they create for an advertiser will now be considered union-covered services and allow union pension and health contributions to be made.
Vietnam: Evidence on Ownership & Damage in Copyright & Related Rights LitigationBy Yen Vu & Trung TranInternational and Immigration Law, December 2021For many years, questions have been asked on the role of the court in IP disputes in Vietnam. Although setting up an IP court is still a long-term plan, an increasing number of copyright and related rights lawsuits have initiated in Vietnam. Vietnam (Economic) Courts have gradually gained more experience in handling IP disputes, with their resolution of complicated cases that may be beyond the capacity of administrative authorities. Two recent notable court rulings on the proof of ownership and damages are discussed.
Expedited Changes Coming to the Canadian Trademark Office: A Comparative Overview With the U.S. SystemBy Alice DenenbergIntellectual Property, September 2021In summer 2019 Canada updated its trademark laws, adopted the Nice Classification System, and joined the Madrid Protocol, enabling Canada to be designated in an international registration. However, even before these changes, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office was plagued with examination delays exasperating both attorneys and IP owners.
Google v. Oracle: U.S. Supreme Court Whiffs on a Chance to Declare Code’s StatusBy Phillip R. Van NessIntellectual Property, September 2021In its April 5, 2021 decision in Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc., the Supreme Court overwhelmingly sided with Google in its long-running copyright dispute with Oracle. The decision generally pleased tech companies but upset the movie and recording industries as well as publishers and authors, not to mention the Trump administration, which sided with Oracle in this battle of heavyweights, although Google is obviously the larger of the two combatants. After the extended process inflicted on the litigants, some issues remain unresolved.
Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, September 2021An eclectic gathering of recent intellectual property developments.
Is Your Ink Protected by Copyright?By Teresa SegalmanIntellectual Property, September 2021Copyright law has not caught up with the increasing popularity of tattoos in mainstream U.S. culture. A handful of tattoo copyright infringement claims have been brought recently, most settling before a court ruling. The lack of caselaw and absence of specific mention of tattoos in copyright statutes contribute to the ambiguity in tattoo copyright law, with some guidance provided in the context of video games and athlete’s tattoos.
Mindgeek to Settle Copyright Claims by Martha’s Vineyard HomeownerBy Mark KernesIntellectual Property, September 2021Adult entertainment industry intellectual property disputes usually attempt to stanch video piracy. Rare is Bassett v. Jensen, claiming copyright infringement of background art in a rented Martha’s Vineyard house used to film videos. House owner Leah Bassett did not know renter Joshua Darling was videographer for the adult videos.
Vietnam: Evidence on Ownership & Damage in Copyright & Related Rights LitigationBy Yen Vu & Trung TranIntellectual Property, September 2021For many years, questions have been asked on the role of the court in IP disputes in Vietnam. Although setting up an IP court is still a long-term plan, an increasing number of copyright and related rights lawsuits have initiated in Vietnam. Vietnam (Economic) Courts have gradually gained more experience in handling IP disputes, with their resolution of complicated cases that may be beyond the capacity of administrative authorities. Two recent notable court rulings on the proof of ownership and damages are discussed.
Copyright Trolls in the Construction BusinessBy Margo Lynn HablutzelCommercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy, June 2021There are two main lessons to take from this article. First, copyright trolls will thrive as long as their targets are unfamiliar with decisions such as Lexington Homes and Signature Construction, and decide it is easier to pay a fee to avoid litigation. Second, in an industry where design elements are limited and certain combinations are expected, copyright infringement requires direct and unquestionable copying for liability. Merely echoing certain elements is insufficient to sustain a claim.
Copyright Trolls in the Construction BusinessBy Margo Lynn HablutzelIntellectual Property, May 2021There are two main lessons to take from this article. First, copyright trolls will thrive as long as their targets are unfamiliar with decisions such as Lexington Homes and Signature Construction, and decide it is easier to pay a fee to avoid litigation. Second, in an industry where design elements are limited and certain combinations are expected, copyright infringement requires direct and unquestionable copying for liability. Merely echoing certain elements is insufficient to sustain a claim.
Fair Use Myths and Realities for Nonprofit OrganizationsBy Nathan BreenIntellectual Property, May 2021Nonprofits and others who repurpose online content need to take care in assessing whether: 1) the use rises to the level of infringement, 2) fair use would serve as a defense, and 3) applicable terms and conditions provide additional usage rights or limitations. As illustrated by the various cases addressing these issues, assumptions and generalizations are dangerous in this area.
Intellectual Improbabilities™By Daniel KeganIntellectual Property, May 2021An eclectic gathering of recent intellectual property developments.
Luck of the IP AttorneyBy Peggy HerrmannIntellectual Property, May 2021For the edification of the ISBA IP Counsel, and St Patrick celebrations, council member Peggy Herrmann compiled a seven-factor quiz with answers.
Who Has Skin in the Patent Translation Game?By Maria EliseevaIntellectual Property, May 2021The art of translation is a specific professional skill that transforms information in one language environment into another language and its language traditions. The ultimate quality of the translation is determined by how well it preserves and conveys the meaning and unique features of the original text. Machine translation systems and tools aid an experienced translator in various ways; however, machine translation and post machine translation editing are at best an imitation of preparing a translation. In a legal document such as a patent or patent application, even the 99 percent accuracy of the translation very often might mean that it is 100 percent incorrect. It also means that whatever the entire investment was in protecting an applicant’s patent rights in that jurisdiction was possibly wasted.
A Flurry of Precedential Designations by the POPBy Margaret HerrmannIntellectual Property, March 2021Thumbnail summaries of recent precedential designations by the OTAB Precedential Opinion Panel.
Generic.com Trademarks: USPTO v. Booking.comBy Kristen D. BrooksIntellectual Property, March 2021Generic terms coupled with generic top-level domains, such as .com, .net, or .org, are not per se generic, the Supreme Court holds in USPTO v. Booking.com. What is determinative is the perception of the prospective purchaser, an empirical question.
Important Changes to Copyright and Trademark LawBy Beverly A. BernemanIntellectual Property, March 2021When the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law, it included the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act and the Trademark Modernization Act, which made significant changes to our intellectual property law.
