Trademark Disputes Over AI Prompt Libraries: Can a Collection Name Function as a Brand?

The Rise of AI Prompt Libraries Creates New Trademark Questions A few years ago, most businesses had little reason to think about protecting the name of a collection of instructions. Today, those instructions can be the foundation of an entire business. Entrepreneurs are selling curated AI prompts for marketing, graphic design, software development, customer service, and business automation. Some offer downloadable prompt collections, while others operate subscription-based libraries where customers pay for access to specialized…

The TTAB Case With Too Many Witnesses: When Additional Testimony Adds Little Value

Why More Witnesses Do Not Always Make a Stronger TTAB Case Imagine preparing for a trademark opposition proceeding and identifying six employees who can testify about the company’s use of its trademark. Each employee knows the brand, remembers its early development, and can explain how the business operates. At first glance, calling all six witnesses might seem like a sensible approach. After all, more testimony should mean more evidence, right? Not necessarily. In proceedings before…

Trademark Confusion in AI Voice Assistants: What Happens When Two Brand Names Sound Alike?

A customer asks a voice assistant to find a particular brand. The assistant responds with a different company, one whose name sounds almost identical. The customer may not notice the difference, especially if the recommendation appears relevant to the original request. For businesses investing in artificial intelligence, voice-enabled shopping, and digital branding, this situation raises an increasingly important question: Can two trademarks create consumer confusion simply because they sound alike? The answer begins with a…

Can a TTAB Party Challenge Evidence It Previously Agreed Was Authentic?

Introduction Imagine spending months preparing for a trademark opposition, only to discover that a document you previously agreed was authentic contains information that could weaken your case. Perhaps it is an old marketing report, an invoice, or an internal email that your opponent now claims proves an earlier trademark use date. You know the document exists. You may even agree that it is a genuine business record. What you dispute is the conclusion your opponent…

When an AI Platform Automatically Renames a Seller’s Products: Who Bears the Trademark Risk?

Artificial intelligence is changing how businesses sell products online. From automated descriptions to personalized shopping recommendations, AI-powered tools now influence how customers discover and compare brands. But what happens when an online marketplace automatically changes a product name and unintentionally introduces another company’s trademark? Imagine a small business selling handmade skincare products under its own brand. The seller uploads a product called “Daily Botanical Moisturizer,” but the marketplace’s AI system generates a different title that…

Trademark Rights in AI Agent Names: Who Owns the Brand When the Agent Operates Independently?

Can an AI Agent Have Its Own Trademark? An AI agent can operate independently, communicate with customers, complete transactions, and even develop a recognizable identity. But can that AI agent actually own the trademark associated with its name? Under current U.S. trademark law, an AI agent is not recognized as an independent legal owner of trademark rights merely because it operates autonomously. Trademark ownership generally belongs to the person or legal entity responsible for the…

A Trademark Opposition Without a Strong Witness: Can Documentary Evidence Carry the Case?

Can You Win a TTAB Opposition Without a Strong Witness? A trademark opposition can become complicated when the person who knows the most about a company’s brand is unavailable, has left the business, or simply cannot remember important details. Perhaps the founder launched the brand years ago but no longer has access to the original records. Maybe the marketing director who handled the first product launch has moved on. Sometimes, the only available witness is…

Legal Services for Startups: What Every Founder Needs Before Raising Capital

Why Startups Need Legal Services Before Raising Capital You have spent months, maybe years, turning an idea into something real. The product works. Customers are paying attention. The pitch deck is taking shape. Now you are ready to sit across the table from investors and talk about what comes next. That isn’t the ideal moment to discover a problem with who owns the company. Founders benefit from addressing legal issues before fundraising begins, not after…

AI-Powered Impersonation Accounts and Trademark Rights: Can the TTAB Offer Relief?

Can the TTAB Help Businesses Fight AI-Powered Impersonation Accounts? The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) can help businesses challenge federal trademark applications or registrations associated with AI-powered impersonation accounts, but it cannot directly remove fake social media profiles or stop online impersonation. Its authority is limited to determining whether a trademark should be registered or remain registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This distinction is becoming increasingly important as artificial…

The Last-Minute Settlement Offer: What Parties Should Consider Before a TTAB Trial

Can You Settle a TTAB Case Right Before Trial? Yes. Parties involved in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) opposition or cancellation proceeding can negotiate a settlement even when the case is approaching trial. However, receiving a settlement offer does not automatically stop the litigation schedule, and accepting an offer without examining its terms can create consequences that extend beyond the immediate dispute. Imagine spending months preparing evidence, responding to discovery requests, and building…

When a Trademark Owner Cannot Explain Its First Sale: A TTAB Priority Dispute

Why Does the Date of a Trademark’s First Sale Matter? A business owner may remember the excitement of making their first sale without remembering exactly when it happened. Perhaps the transaction occurred at a local market, through a website that no longer exists, or before the company started maintaining organized financial records. Years later, that missing information can become a serious problem. In a trademark priority dispute before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB),…

Virtual Influencers and Trademark Ownership: Who Controls the Brand Behind an AI Personality?

Can a Virtual Influencer Own a Trademark? A virtual influencer can attract millions of followers, secure advertising partnerships, and become the recognizable face of a commercial brand without ever existing as a real person. These computer-generated personalities are changing how businesses advertise products, build audiences, and establish brand identities. But when a virtual influencer becomes commercially valuable, an important legal question emerges: who actually owns the trademark rights behind that digital personality? Under U.S. trademark…

When a TTAB Case Depends on a Single Document: The Risks of Narrow Evidence

Can One Document Really Decide a TTAB Case? Imagine a business owner who has used a trademark for years. When another company applies to register a similar name, the owner files a trademark opposition with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Confident in the company’s history, the owner submits an old invoice showing that the trademark appeared in a sale several years earlier. The invoice seems convincing. It contains a date, a product description,…

Social Media Rebranding After a Trademark Opposition: Does Changing Your Username Help?

Can Changing Your Social Media Username Resolve a Trademark Opposition? Changing your Instagram handle or TikTok username might seem like an easy solution when another business challenges your trademark. After all, if the disputed name disappears from your social media accounts, shouldn’t the disagreement disappear too? Unfortunately, trademark disputes are rarely that simple. A trademark opposition before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) concerns whether a particular mark is entitled to federal registration. Changing…

The Impact of Adverse Inferences in TTAB Proceedings

Introduction: When Silence Speaks Loudly Before the TTAB In Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, what a party does not say can be just as important as what it proves. The concept of adverse inferences in TTAB litigation is often misunderstood, yet it can quietly shape the outcome of an opposition or cancellation. While the Board does not operate like a jury trial, it does evaluate gaps in evidence, missing testimony, and unexplained failures to…

Product Liability and Intellectual Property: When Counterfeit Products Lead to Personal Injury Claims

The Legal Risks of Counterfeit and Defective Goods If you have been injured by a counterfeit product, you may wonder what next steps to take. After all, you likely thought you had purchased the authentic version and were unaware of the damage a fake product could cause. You likely have a valid product liability claim, but where should you turn? Fake products can be dangerous because the manufacturers are concerned more about profit than safety.…

AI Hub

A trademark opposition proceeding can be commenced by anyone with a legitimate interest in the registration of a pending trademark. A trademark opposition lawyer can help.

Copyright Laws for Art

COPYRIGHT LAWS FOR ART Copyright laws are a cornerstone of intellectual property (IP) rights, designed to protect the original creations of artists, writers, and other creators. In the art world, copyright serves as a legal framework that ensures artists retain control over their work while providing mechanisms for licensing, reproduction, and enforcement. For law firms specializing in IP law, understanding and effectively navigating the nuances of copyright laws for art is essential to advising clients…

Navigating Trademark Applications for Hemp and CBD Products in the USA

corinna kopf telegram NAVIGATING TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS FOR HEMP AND CBD PRODUCTS IN THE USA   The cannabis industry, particularly the hemp and CBD market, has seen exponential growth since the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. This legislation legalized hemp and its derivatives under federal law, provided they contain less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). With hemp now legal, businesses have been eager to establish their brands in this lucrative sector, creating a flood of applications…

Disadvantages of Descriptive Trademarks

THE DISADVANTAGES OF DESCRIPTIVE TRADEMARKS: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS  Introduction Trademarks serve a vital role in the marketplace by distinguishing the goods or services of one business from those of another. They help build brand recognition and consumer trust, making them essential to both small businesses and large corporations. However, not all trademarks are created equal. One of the most commonly misunderstood categories of trademarks is the descriptive trademark. While descriptive trademarks may seem appealing due…

Acceptable Trademark Specimens

UNDERSTANDING ACCEPTABLE TRADEMARK SPECIMENS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE A trademark serves as a unique identifier that distinguishes the goods or services of one entity from those of another. In the process of registering a trademark, one crucial requirement is providing a trademark specimen, which demonstrates actual use of the mark in commerce. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as well as trademark offices worldwide, require this specimen to prove that the trademark is actively…

A Detailed Overview of the Supplemental Register

A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL REGISTER   Introduction The Supplemental Register is a lesser-known yet crucial component of the U.S. trademark system. It serves as a secondary register, offering certain benefits to trademarks that may not qualify for the Principal Register. Understanding the Supplemental Register is essential for businesses, legal practitioners, and brand owners who seek to protect their trademarks, especially those marks that are descriptive or lack distinctiveness at the time of application.…

CO-OWNERSHIP OF TRADEMARKS

CO-OWNERSHIP OF TRADEMARKS: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND CHALLENGES   Co-ownership of trademarks in the United States presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Trademarks, which serve as symbols of a company’s brand identity, are often considered the most valuable assets a business can own. When more than one party shares ownership of a trademark, the legal landscape becomes significantly more complex. Understanding the implications, benefits, and potential pitfalls of co-owning a trademark is crucial for…

Key Evidence Considerations in TTAB Cases

ESSENTIAL EVIDENCE ELEMENTS IN TTAB CASES   Introduction   The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is a pivotal administrative tribunal within the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), tasked with adjudicating various trademark-related disputes. These disputes typically involve opposition to the registration of trademarks, petitions to cancel registered marks, and appeals concerning the refusal of trademark applications. Given the crucial role that trademarks play in protecting brand identity and ensuring market differentiation, the…

Landmark TTAB Decision: Impact on Trademark Law and Implications for Applicants and Registrants

SIGNIFICANT TTAB RULING: EFFECTS ON TRADEMARK LAW AND CONSEQUENCES FOR APPLICANTS AND REGISTRANTS   Introduction The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) plays a critical role in the U.S. trademark system, serving as the forum for the resolution of disputes concerning the registration of trademarks. While the TTAB’s decisions are often highly specialized, certain landmark rulings have far-reaching implications, reshaping the landscape of trademark law and influencing how trademarks are protected and enforced in the…

Who can file an opposition to a trademark application before the TTAB?

INTRODUCTION TO TRADEMARK OPPOSITION BEFORE THE TTAB The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides a mechanism for interested parties to oppose the registration of a trademark through proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). The TTAB is an administrative body responsible for adjudicating disputes related to trademark applications and registrations, including oppositions, cancellations, and concurrent use proceedings. Trademark opposition is a critical part of maintaining the integrity of the trademark register,…

Grounds For Trademark Opposition

THE ESSENTIAL CONCEPT BEHIND TRADEMARK OPPOSITIONS When opposing a trademark application, several key grounds can be cited to challenge the registration. One of the most common reasons is the likelihood of confusion, which occurs when the proposed trademark is too similar to an existing one, potentially misleading consumers about the origin of goods or services. Other grounds include descriptiveness, where the mark merely describes the product or service, and lack of distinctiveness, meaning the trademark…

Appeals of TTAB Decisions

Appeals of TTAB Decisions (an overview) The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative body within the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that handles cases involving trademark registration. When the TTAB makes a decision, the involved parties may have the option to appeal that decision if they disagree with the outcome. Here’s an overview of the process and options available for appealing TTAB decisions: TTAB Decisions Overview The TTAB issues decisions on…

Motion for summary judgment in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)

What is motion for summary judgment in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)? Motion for summary judgment in Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) A motion for summary judgment in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) proceeding is a formal request made by one party asking the Board to decide the case, or specific issues within the case, without going to trial. The party filing the motion argues that there are no genuine disputes…

What is the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board?

TRADEMARK TRIAL APPEAL BOARD (TTAB) – OVERVIEW The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative body within the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It is responsible for adjudicating disputes related to trademark applications and registrations. The TTAB operates under the authority of the USPTO and handles several types of proceedings, including: Trademark Opposition Proceedings: These occur when a party opposes the registration of a trademark. The opposing party may believe that…

Complete Guide to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)

Complete Guide to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Overview The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative body within the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It handles specific types of cases involving trademarks, primarily focusing on the legal issues surrounding the registration of trademarks. The TTAB’s primary functions include adjudicating appeals of trademark registration refusals, and resolving oppositions to the registration of trademarks and petitions to cancel registrations of…

UNDERSTANDING TRADE DRESS BASICS

Understanding Trade Dress and Product Design Protection in the Context of Trademark Law Trade dress refers to the visual appearance of a product or its packaging that signifies the source of the product to consumers. In the context of protecting packaging designs, trade dress includes the overall look and feel of the packaging, which can encompass features such as size, shape, color, texture, graphics, and even particular sales techniques. Key Aspects of Trade Dress: Source…

TTAB DISCOVERY CONFERENCE

Understanding the TTAB Discovery Conference and Why It Matters During a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) discovery conference, the parties involved typically discuss various aspects related to the discovery process in the trademark dispute. The purpose of the conference is to streamline the discovery process, resolve any disputes regarding discovery, and establish guidelines for conducting discovery efficiently. Here are some key points that may be discussed during a TTAB discovery conference: Scope of Discovery:…

Trademark

TRADEMARK LAWYER NEAR ME

Trademark Oppositions and Cancellations are very serious matters indeed whose procedural dictates must be followed to the letter. Here’s What you Need to Know

Trademark

How Much Does It Cost to Register a Trademark?

The cost of registering a trademark depends on attorney fees and USPTO government filing fees. Cohn Legal offers a flat-fee trademark registration package starting at $650 per application, plus the USPTO’s $350 base filing fee per class. Use our trademark cost calculator to estimate your initial registration expenses.

Trademark 5...

How Does An Applicant Prove A Bona Fide Intent To Use A Trademark?

Five statutory bases are available to an Applicant when filing a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Establishing Bona Fide Intent to Use the trademark commercially and to link the trademark with particular goods and services is one statutory basis that may be satisfied for a trademark application to be submitted.

Trademark 5...

USPTO Trademark Applications: Here’s How to Fill Them Out Correctly

A successful trademark application must fulfill the statutory requirements for at least one of the five bases for a trademark to be granted by the Unites States Patent & Trademark Office. Many trademark applicants choose to file a Trademark Electronic Application System Plus (TEAS) application since the filing fee is reduced to just $275.00 per International Classification. In addition to paying the filing fee, the application must satisfy the bases requirements in effect at the time of filing.

kevin-grieve

Trademark Cease and Desist Letters – The Complete Guide

Trademark Cease and Desist letters elicit wildly different mental and emotional reactions, depending on whether you are on the sending or receiving end of these letters. The fundamental purpose of a cease and desist letter, of course, is to allow a holder of a trademark to notify an alleged violator that there is indeed trademark infringement underway, and stipulate the trademark holder’s demands and threats if those demands are not met.

New York Seed Round Lawyer

Can I Use My Name as a Trademark?

Perhaps one of the most common questions our trademark attorneys are asked is whether or not I can use my name as a trademark. This is of course not particularly surprising – entrepreneurs and small business owners very often want to brand their businesses with their own names to make the company feel more personal and in a certain way, intimate.

jess-harper-sunday

How to Revive An Abandoned Trademark Application

That your trademark has gone abandoned is not necessarily a fatal conclusion and the USPTO provides its applicants an opportunity to revive an abandoned trademark under certain circumstances. Like all dealings with the USPTO, form matters and there are specific procedural rules and requirements that must be met when filing a petition to revive.

Can in the water

Trademark Opposition Guide

Perhaps most importantly, it is critical to recognize the immense time, money and resources involved in prosecuting a trademark opposition case and one should, therefore, be very careful to make an honest assessment of the likelihood of winning before commencing suit.

Trademark 5...

Trademark Infringement? Trust Your Gut

After five long years, your food startup has done everything your doubters arrogantly predicted it wouldn’t do. It is now a multi-million dollar success story and over 10,000 stores throughout the United States sell your trademarked product, Volcano Bites, a fruit snack containing 100% real orange and pineapple juice with no artificial additives.

New York Seed Round Lawyer

Trademark Oppositions: Here’s What To Do If Your Trademark Has been Opposed

Trademark Oppositions are an immensely powerful tool. If you feel that your trademark has been infringed upon by a competing party, and you catch the newly filed trademark in time, a Trademark Opposition proceeding may be your new best friend. If you are on the receiving end of a Trademark Opposition, it’s time to hire a Trademark Attorney.   Trademark Opposition and You: What it Means, and What to Do You’ve taken significant steps to…

New York Seed Round Lawyer

New York Seed Round Lawyer – Representing Startups During Seed Round Events

Arguably the most daunting, difficult and downright terrifying task for any startup is raising capital. Obtaining seed funding can often be a long and frustrating process but it is imperative. Having trouble raising seed capital? Want to know how to close a deal with an investor? Read on and speak with a New York Seed Round Lawyer.   What is Seed Funding? Seed funding is arguably THE most important round of funding for any startup.…

DMCA Safe Harbor: An Analysis

DMCA Safe Harbor: An Analysis

If you operate a submission-based website where content is uploaded by third-party users without your initial vetting and approval, you should be very interested indeed in the DMCA Safe Harbors. What is a DMCA Safe Harbor? The Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998 (the “DMCA”) is a law which was passed in 1998 and was written with the express purpose of developing a legal framework to manage the competing interests of protecting copyright holders while…

Food Labeling Law

Food Labeling Law: The Imperative For Transparency

This blog post was written by Abe Cohn and Originally Appeared on the PieShell Blog The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is charged with a variety of duties, and chief among them is its responsibility to develop and enforce food-labeling regulations for food products. The two main pieces of legislation governing these regulations are The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. Each Act covers, of course, different areas of governance but…

Food Labeling Requirements

Food Labeling Requirements: The FDA is Watching Carefully.

This blog post was written by Abe Cohn and Originally Appeared on Entrepreneurial Chef Magazine While you absolutely loved fruit roll ups as a child, your adult sensibilities now recognize that a healthier version would have probably served your body better and you’ve since made it your life’s mission to build an organic taffy company. Congratulations! Of course, you have a lot of work ahead of you but you recognize that the most important aspect…

Coverwallet

Tech Thought Leaders Interview Series

  CoverWallet was started by tech entrepreneurs who worked in software startups in the past, building easy to use online products for consumers and enterprises. Frustrated with how opaque, high pressure and time consuming the management of commercial insurance was, we decided to build a better experience for other business owners and a concierge service for them.   1. What’s your name and position at CoverWallet? A. Inaki Berenguer, CEO & CO-founder of Coverwallet 2.…

Artist/Producer Contracts: The Fundamentals

Music producers generally elicit and capture artists’ performances in the recording studio to produce artistically, commercially, and technically acceptable master recordings. Often times, the artist-producer relationship is laid back and casual due to the nature of the music industry and the people therein. Some artists and producers avoid explicitly discussing the details of their relationship as it can negatively influence the workflow and creative atmosphere when there is too much business and money talk. Nevertheless,…

The 4 Steps To Take If Your Song Has Been Stolen

When someone “steals” your song, it is most often a matter of copyright infringement. Copyright owners have federal statutory rights as outlined by the United States Copyright Act. In short, copyright owners have exclusive rights in their copyrighted works including the right of reproduction, distribution, public display and performance, and the right to prepare derivative works. This means only the copyright owner, such as a musician or artist, can reproduce, distribute or perform their original…

How to Form a Band (Legally): From Casual Hobby to Serious Business

Have you ever been to a musical performance and thought to yourself, “What a fun job! I wish I could play rock guitar for a living.” Did you make music with your high school buddies in your garage or your basement? Did you or your friends’ bands eventually fall apart? While some bands come and go, others grow to become professional musicians and legendary icons, selling thousands of dollars in branded merchandise, protecting and licensing…

Music Sampling and Copyright Law: What’s Legal?

nude pictures of angie tyleruncensored With the growing popularity of hip-hop music and remix culture, sampling has become common practice among a wide variety of artists and producers looking to associate with those who have come before them. Sampling is the act of integrating sounds embodied in a pre-existing sound recording into a new musical work. As a matter of copyright law, when an artist “samples” another artist’s music, they must receive permission from the…

How To Value A Startup

But really, how to value your Startup? Imagine a situation in which an investor says that he’ll give you $30 million for 20 percent of your company. However, you believe your startup to be currently valued at less than $150 million. What is the investor really offering you?   Pre and Post Money Valuation Investors commonly speak in terms of post-money valuation, which refers to the value of the company after a financing event. When…

Term Sheets for Startups – Everything You Need To Know

Term sheets are documents (often) drafted by attorneys, which contain the key provisions that startups and investors agree to when striking a deal. Fundamentally, term sheets stipulate the financial obligations of each party and outline the conditions of the sale of stock to investors or the sale and purchase of a company. Critically, term sheets allow the parties to identify or predict any issues that may arise before the (potentially) wasteful commitment of time, money,…

Stock Options: ISO vs. NSO

Stock options, such as the Incentive Stock Option (ISO) and the Non-Qualified Stock Option (NSO), are an important tool to incentivize employees, contractors, and consultants hired by a startup to work at their top capacity. These stock options provide workers with the right and opportunity to purchase shares in the future at the (theoretically) lower price that is set at the moment the stock is granted. Of course, the assumption here is that the company’s…

IRS Form 83b

  The Basics When an individual is granted stock as compensation from his/her employer, the taxes may either be received fully at the time of grant or may be received incrementally along a vesting schedule. Naturally, the IRS considers this stock to be a form of financial gain that is subject to taxation. Under this default assumption, an individual pays taxes based on the value of stock at the time of vesting. However, under the…

Anti-circumvention: You Don’t Completely “Own” Everything That You Buy

17 U.S.C. 1201, the “anti-circumvention” provision of the Copyright Act, makes it illegal for a user of a “digital good” to access certain copyrighted information, like a computer program’s code, if the code is so written to disallow access to it. For example, if a user purchases a new smartphone that implements a measure to block access to its operating system’s code, and the user “circumvents” that measure to see the code, that user has…

First Things 1st, Copyright Doesn’t Protect Everything

Yaina Williams had an idea for a reality TV show, called “Married At 1st Sight,” where 3 different, random couples go on a 12-hour blind date, after which the TV audience selects a winning couple who then marry one another.  The goal is for the couple to remain together for at least 6 months in order to win prizes at the end of it all. Williams uploaded her “Treatment” to TV Writer’s Vault, a website…

Google’s Library Project and the Decade-Long Legal Battle that Followed

Google, the often-verbed champion of the search engine, faced a lawsuit from the Author’s Guild in 2013 over Google Books’s “Library Project.” Since 2004, Google has worked with several libraries to create something of an online card catalog that, as Google proclaims, aims to make finding relevant books easier for those looking for them – “specifically, books they wouldn’t find any other way such as those that are out of print.” Naturally, this ain’t grandma’s…

The Wolf of Wall Street: Yet Another Theft?

Andrew Greene, an ex-director and head of corporate finance at Stratton Oakmont, Inc., the subject of the 2013 hit Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street, brought suit against Paramount Pictures and others last year alleging defamation and violations of his right to privacy under the laws of New York. Greene claims that the character Nicky “Rugrat” Koskoff is an identifiable portrayal of him, and that people who have watched the movie believe that…

Hey! You! Get Off Of My (Sound)Cloud!

Early this summer it was rumored that Universal Music Group and Sony Music were preparing to file lawsuits against SoundCloud, the popular Swedish music-streaming service (based in Berlin) that over the past eight years has helped tons of budding musicians advance their careers. SoundCloud only streams user-uploaded music, which in large part is made up of original compositions from smaller artists. The problem is that a lot of these artists are DJs who use non-original,…

Wait Before You Send That Takedown Notice: Courts Demand Inquiry Into Fair Use

Back in 2007, proud mother Stephanie Lenz recorded a video of her young son happily bouncing about to Prince’s song, “Let’s Go Crazy.” The video is only 29 seconds long, but received a gigantic amount of attention when Lenz went to court over it. Universal Music Publishing Group complained to YouTube that the video infringed a copyright that Universal owns, and demanded that the video to be taken down. YouTube complied, and Lenz fought back.…

Copyright: An International Concern

On the first of September, at the request of rights holders representing Norwegian branches of United States media companies, a district court in Oslo, Norway ordered Norwegian internet service providers to block access to large file sharing websites such as The Pirate Bay. The injunctions will last for five years, and will apply to any new domain names that the companies may move to. If this story sounds old, that’s probably because these file sharing…

The Scandalous (and Intriguing) World of Trademarks

Two United States Courts of Appeals, the Fourth Circuit and the Federal Circuit, are set to examine the question of whether or not Section 2(a) of the United States Trademark Act, otherwise known as the “Lanham Act,” is in violation of the First Amendment and, therefore, unconstitutional. The section provides that the USPTO can deny or cancel a trademark on the Principal Register if it consists of “immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter, or which may…

In The Blink Of An Eye: How Online Trademark Registration Can Pull The Rug From Under Your Feet

Two companies, Kelly Services, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Kelly”) and Creative Harbor LLC, created employment-related apps that are not entirely similar, but would operate in the same general market. Unfortunately, both companies titled their respective apps as “WorkWire.” Kelly, who had not filed “WorkWire” for trademark protection, tried to submit WorkWire to the Apple App Store, failed, tried again, and succeeded. Two hours before the App Store released WorkWire for public purchase, however, Creative…

The JDate v. JSwipe Saga, Part 4: Until Next Time

Sparks Networks (owner of JDate) has suffered some significant losses in the last few years, but it’s difficult to point the finger at companies like JSwipe when Sparks simply hasn’t kept up with the times. Unsurprisingly, most people would rather not pay for online dating services when there are so many that are free to use. JDate could have ventured into the world of ad-based revenue with a free app, and, prior to 2014, they…

The JDate v. JSwipe Saga, Part 3: Old But New (The Patent Case)

Sparks Networks, owner of JDate.com, isn’t just suing JSwipe over a trademark or the letter “J.” There is a controversial and familiar patent issue in the midst as well. Back in 2011, Sparks sued Zoosk, OkCupid, and 2RedBeans (a dating website for Chinese-Americans) for infringement of the same patent at issue here. None of the 2011 cases went to final judgment, which presumably means that they all settled, bolstering the views of those who see…

The JDate v. JSwipe Saga, Part 2: The Trademark Issue

JDate’s lawsuit against JSwipe has created a massive buzz in the world of internet news. The consensus among commentators is that Sparks Networks, the owner of JDate, is claiming an exclusive right to use the letter “J” in reference to services targeting the Jewish community. Consensus is not always completely correct, however. Among Sparks’ 8 allegations against JSwipe is “False Designation of Origin,” which is when somebody uses a company name that is likely to…

The JDate v. JSwipe Saga, Part 1: JDate Swipes Left

JSwipe, the increasingly popular tinder-like app for the Jewish community, has attracted over 375,000 users since its launch last April. Unfortunately, a quick rise to the top is often welcomed with a lawsuit. Sparks Networks, Inc., owner of the well known online dating service JDate, filed a complaint against JSwipe in November alleging (among other things) trademark and patent infringement. The case is still in its early stages, and is set to resume this month.…

Smart Contracts: A Digital Middleman

“Smart contracts” are digitized, self-executing agreements that may reduce or, eventually, eliminate the need for courts to enforce certain agreements. Now in the early stages of development, the idea has been around since 1994. Two start-ups, Codius and Ethereum, are working on systems that aim to make smart contracts a reality. Smart contracts are more than a standard “auto-pay” function. Through the use of cryptocurrency, or decentralized currency, Codius and Ethereum seek to significantly lower…