Best of 2013: Autographs as trademarks: Sign right here
First published on August 5, 2013. The signature of John Hancock on the Declaration of Independence is so famous that among Americans, the term “John Hancock”... Read more
Category: Rights of Publicity and Personality
Death of a great brand
“Has the Bin Laden brand jumped the shark?” Hey, who said “death“? UPDATE: Ok, ok, Death. Originally posted 2013-01-21 08:00:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter Read more
Tattoo Me ®
Eric Goldman has an interesting piece about an issue that has actually come up in my practice: Trademarks and tattoos, and specifically the concept of... Read more
Bittersweet: Hershey bars all comers
As if on cue (they read this blog, right?), long-time trademark bully Hershey continues its aggressive brand — and whatever — protection efforts: Hershey Entertainment... Read more
Best of 2011: Dubious assignations
First published on March 8, 2011. Steve Baird generously linked back to this LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION® post writing about the trademark status of some singer’s signature... Read more
Sorry, Mr. Hamilton
Our old friend Oliver Herzfeld writes: But wait, how about our other “old friend,” Uzi Nissan? Remember him? Nissan the car company never really cared... Read more
Defacing “The Face”?
Genius! Plus studliness! Yes, in one post on his Licensing Law Blog, Richard Bergovoy brings together some of my favorite things: Jimi Hendrix-related intellectual property... Read more
Turn the other one? Or liberty? Or death?
“Trademark” is not a verb. Right — we will resolve these all here and now. Key issues. Fish or cut bait. Or we most assuredly... Read more
Arnold Palmer and the Perfect Brand
As seen in the Benny Goodman case in the TTAB, celebrity, brand power and trademark rights may outlive a celebrity’s peak performing years, but will bear fruit only... Read more
Sotomayor — one of us?
There’s been a lot of talk about U.S. Circuit Court Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court by President Obama in the context his controversial... Read more
Head of State
Sounds almost ordinary enough at first — this tweet from @EFF: Another Obama image fair use controversy: http://bit.ly/vhWCk Oh, sure. Another vhWCk?! What are you,... Read more
MLB whiffs on the right of publicity
Alec Rogers: In recent decades, Major League Baseball has made great strides in developing its business operation. No longer content to make money from tickets,... Read more
Tell Yes artist: “No. No. Fifty million times no.”
If the federal copyright complaint that you file on behalf of your client includes an assertion that “[the d]efendants… knew or should have known that... Read more
Best of 2011: “Life rights”? (Making things with life?)
First posted May 23, 2011. Pittsburgh Trademark Lawyer Daniel Corbett brings us an NBA star’s attempt at a four-point shot: Post-relationship drama takes many forms, but... Read more