Blog Blog
United States Trademarks To talk about trademark infringement, we first must address what a trademark is. A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of these things that are used to identify goods or services. For example, the word mark “Apple” for a computer. A trademark identifies the sources of your goods
In its ongoing efforts to satisfy ChatGPT’s colossal appetite for content on which to “train” its algorithms, OpenAI continues to announce major licensing deals with partners ranging from traditional publishing stalwarts like Time and The Atlantic to user-generated content platforms like Reddit and Stack Overflow (and its sister site Stack Exchange, which will be referred
USPTO Trademark Costs Will be Increasing The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) wants to raise certain trademark fees, consistent with its fee-setting authority. If USPTO’s proceeds with their current plans (which it almost certainly will), the costs associated with trademark registration in the United States will go up considerably for trademark owners. In
The Trademark Functionality Doctrine The Trademark Functionality Doctrine limits what can be trademarked. It prevents companies from getting exclusive rights to functional features of a product, like its packaging or design. This protects competition and ensures there are a variety of choices for consumers. Patents, on the other hand, grant inventors a temporary monopoly over
What is a Copyright? The word copyright is a legal term of art used to identify the type of protection granted to an author, or creator, of certain types of creative works. When you set out to write a book, or a screen play, what you created, what you typed into your computer, or wrote
San Francisco vs. Oakland: Trademark Battle Over Airport Name San Francisco and Oakland are embroiled in a court dispute over the Oakland Airport’s plan to rename its airport “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” Without doubt, this’ll be an interesting case to watch, as the court determines whether Oakland’s actions constitute trademark infringement. It is
Deepfakes — sophisticated AI-generated videos capable of seamlessly grafting a person’s face and voice onto another body — are stark examples of the challenges faced with AI technologies. Deepfakes are hyper-realistic fabrications that blur the lines between truth and fiction, presenting a formidable threat in the realm of misinformation. Deepfakes also have political implications, painting
Navigating The Startup Landscape As an attorney who focuses on business and intellectual property (IP), I have had the opportunity to work with many startups that were seeking to bring their ideas to the world. Moving from an idea to a finished product can be a daunting prospect for any startup, however, it doesn’t have
IP Licensing Intellectual Property (“IP”) licensing opens doors for businesses to spread their wings, expand their revenue streams, and introduce new products to the market. This licensing is the granting of a right to use IP while retaining ownership of it. Through licensing, companies can venture into new territories not otherwise possible. Though the benefits
The Increasing Threat of Trademark Scams Trademark scams are on the rise, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) warns. If you get a concerning email about your trademark, there is a good chance it’s a trademark scam — but sometimes unsolicited emails are legit (or sort of), in the sense that they are
