Uncategorized

Pics: Promote Your Business But First Take Care of Business

Warning! Did you take that pic you’re about to use to promote your goods or services? Did you hire someone to take the pic? Do you have a written agreement with the photographer? Does that agreement have a “work for hire” provision? Listen, don’t allow your friendly relationship today with the photographer to lead you …

Pics: Promote Your Business But First Take Care of Business Read More »

A Black Woman’s Trademark. A Black Lawyer’s Perspective. Black Brand vs. White Band: “LADY A”

Antebellum: Existing before war, especially American Civil War (Merriam-Webster) This summer, as our nation began in earnest a reckoning regarding the vestiges of the evil institution of slavery, a popular country music band decided it only proper to jettison this term from its band name.  Lady Antebellum announced it would no longer go by that …

A Black Woman’s Trademark. A Black Lawyer’s Perspective. Black Brand vs. White Band: “LADY A” Read More »

Supreme Court Decides an Issue of Copyright Law Unanimously

Hear ye, hear ye! This week the Supreme Court of the United States of America has issued a unanimous ruling! Yes! This Court! Unanimous! And, appropriately, the unanimous opinion was delivered by Justice Ruth Ginsburg after returning to work post cancer surgery. The case: Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, No. 17-571. What’s …

Supreme Court Decides an Issue of Copyright Law Unanimously Read More »

Fraud at the USPTO!?

I recently received word from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO” or “Office”) that one of my firm’s celebrity clients had submitted paperwork to make changes to their official trademark registration records.  That struck me as odd. My firm has represented this particular client for many years.  If any changes were to be …

Fraud at the USPTO!? Read More »

USE IT OR LOSE IT! Trademark Use is Important

Here’s a trivia question for you:  Who owns the famous TESTAROSSA trademark?  Your initial response was Ferrari, right? Nope. As of the beginning of this year, that trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) to a Dallas company for “instruments to test the authenticity of diamonds.”  But, wait a minute. …

USE IT OR LOSE IT! Trademark Use is Important Read More »