In New York, not every dispute over intellectual property will be easy to navigate. Some have significant ambiguity that give credence to the claim of a violation on one end and a defense against the allegation of wrongdoing on the other. This can lead to confusion....
Intellectual Property
Judge throws out the Ancestry.com intellectual property lawsuit
Prominent genealogical website Ancestry.com Inc. has officially thwarted an intellectual property lawsuit filed against in California. The suit was filed by a class of California residents in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The...
Nirvana faces another copyright infringement lawsuit
Nirvana, the famous grunge band from the 90’s that spawned Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters is facing yet another intellectual property dispute. The band has faced copyright infringement litigation for the last several years over its popular smiley face t-shirt after...
Theme Park and Taylor Swift in intellectual property legal battle
Taylor Swift and a Utah theme park are in a legal row over intellectual property rights. The legal battle started when Evermore Park, based in Pleasant Grove, Utah, took the singer to court over her use of the name “Evermore” for the title of her ninth studio album. A...
The right approach to intellectual property legal issues
The concept of “protecting ideas” may seem strange to some people in New York. However, this concept is the very heart of an entire area of the law: intellectual property. From individuals to businesses, protecting ideas can come in many different forms. Whatever your...
Do New Bands And Musicians Need IP Protection?
New artists are so focused on honing their sound and writing and performing music that they may not consider the intellectual property's implications related to their work. There are quite a few things that musicians can copyright or trademark to protect their musical...
Protection of trademark rights
Trademarks are critical to brand recognition and help businesses establish themselves in competitive commercial markets. Certain trademarks, like the Nike swish and the Starbucks mermaid, are so ubiquitous that they are immediately recognizable by consumers across the...
Terrible Towel trademark infringement claim settled
New Yorkers, and football fans nationwide, may be thrilled that the 2020-2021 NFL season is here at last. Yet along with the party snacks, novelty foam fingers, and occasional beer or two, some football fans may have a “Terrible Towel” to waive during the game. They...
Supreme Court rules showing willful infringement not necessary
New York residents and businesses may be interested in reading about a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding trademark law. It ruled that a plaintiff may still win a profits remedy without showing that the defendant willfully infringed on the company's...
Are pop culture jokes in your company’s ads considered fair use?
As a company producing consumer goods or offering services and attempting to engage with the public, you may develop customer personas and attempt a variety of marketing styles in order to engage with your intended customer base. Sometimes, especially if you want to...