Welcome back to the latest installment in IP news—this week, with international flair. Spain is the latest nation to make a big splash in the news over its IP laws. Last year, the country created a commission to help protect content creators from revenues lost due to illegal downloading; however, the “Sinde Law,” as it [...]
Posted in Copyright, Entertainment, Internet on April 1, 2013
There’s something for everyone in this installment of the IP Roundup – including a brand new, hot-off-the-presses Supreme Court ruling. The NFL has agreed to a $42 million settlement with a group of former football players who claimed that the league used their images without authorization to promote the sport. Six players filed a class-action [...]
Posted in Copyright, Entertainment, Patents, Unfair Competition on March 26, 2013
Apple and Superman… you’ve seen these stories before. But that’s the nature of the law—cases take a long time, and appeals can take even longer. IP law is no exception. You know that if Apple isn’t in the news, the week may as well not have happened. Apple still looks to be the winner over Samsung, although [...]
Posted in Internet, Patents, Trademarks, Unfair Competition on March 6, 2013
We’re back with your latest dose of IP news. This week is largely about sports and social media. Under Armour is suing Nike for infringement of Under Armour’s slogan “I will… protect this house.” Nike has recently been using the phrase “I Will” in various promotional materials. Under Armour’s complaint alleges that Nike’s use of [...]
Posted in Copyright, Entertainment, Patents on February 27, 2013
Sherlock, Tiffany, Martha… whether a character, a brand, a person, or some combination thereof, the news this week is about folks you recognize from their first names only. Is Sherlock Holmes a copyrightable character, or is he in the public domain? The famed detective first appeared on the literary scene in 1887, so it seems [...]
Posted in Copyright, Entertainment, Internet, Trademarks on February 20, 2013
Greetings! Seems like the cheese themes just keep coming – along with some music news this week. There is also some excellent news also for student inventors at Purdue. You probably know that sparkling wine must come from a specific region in France in order to be called “champagne.” You may also recall our discussion [...]
Posted in Trade Secrets, Trademarks on February 13, 2013
This week, we’re talking about Apple, Cracker Barrel, and Goodyear. We all know that Apple is rather zealous about protecting its intellectual property. However, its latest bid for IP protection is not for a product or a component, but for “the design and layout of a retail store.” The USPTO finally granted the sought protection [...]
