If your employer registers a trademark for your stage name, how does that impact you and your future endeavors? And if you leave that employer, should they let that trademark go with you? In an unexpected example of this scenario, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc....
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney
Three Broadcast Groups Deny Copyright Infringement in Unlicensed Radio Play
When you hear a song on the radio, what sorts of intellectual property law does that evoke? And if a radio station plays a song without obtaining the proper permission, what kind of trouble can that spell for the station? We are currently seeing this play out in a...
Smucker’s Claims Trademark Infringement of the Crustless Sandwich – But Gallant Tiger Bites Back
If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, you have learned that businesses can register a trademark for goods related to the distinctive shape of a product or packaging. And they can defend that registration by claiming trademark infringement if it seems...
New Year Tips for Business Owners
Happy New Year, and welcome to 2023! I consulted with Mitch Ghaneie, our patent attorney, and Logan McEwen, our trusty and brilliant associate Intellectual Property attorney, to put together our handiest list of intellectual property suggestions for business owners as...
Banksy Defends His Art Against Guess Copyright Infringement
If an artist’s message revolves around anti-commercialist values, is it hypocritical for them to employ copyright law to protect their own work? A swirl of questions like this surrounds a recent copyright infringement case involving Banksy and Guess. The mysterious,...
Trademark Lawsuit: New vs. Founding Band Members of Autograph
The histories of bands are often fraught with volatile dynamics between members. Sometimes these dynamics rise to the surface in public lawsuits, especially when it comes to band ownership, royalties, and live show profits. This makes sense – a popular band can serve...
Case about a Jack Daniel’s Parody Toy May Set New National Standards
“The Old No. 2, on your Tennessee Carpet.” “43% Poo By Vol.” “100% Smelly.” Those are just a few of the quotes employed by Phoenix-based business VIP for their “Bad Spaniels” dog toy. They are meant to evoke and parody Jack Daniel’s famous “Old No. 7” label of whiskey...
Livestream Loophole Leads to Retroactive Infringement of Copyright Licensing
Does it ever pay to use intellectual property loopholes to save a few bucks? If you wish to remain disentangled from legal action, the answer is likely “No.” This is especially true in a complex area of copyright licensing like live televised events, since there may...