Geekview IP Weeks(ish) in Review
Universal's Takedown Notice goes up in smoke. Universal Music Group (UMG) recently issued a Takedown Notice to YouTube instructing it to remove a song by the Florida based rap band,…
Geekview IP Weeks(ish) in Review
Fake flavor packets fuel legal fury. Tropicana -- No pulp, but plenty of litigation. In my 2012 Geekview New Year's edition, I wrote about a federal class action lawsuit recently filed…
Geekview IP Weeks(ish) in Review
WVU says F* You to Kevin Ford. Kevin Ford owns a company named MivaMan, which makes and sells some pretty silly and somewhat irreverent t-shirts at fastees.com. Apparently, West Virginia…
Hey, Chick-fil-A: Eat (More) Crow! This is not Trademark Infringement.
Do you imagine crow tastes good with chicken? Maybe we should ask the legal eagles representing Chick-fil-A, whom I suspect now have first-hand knowledge of the answer to that question.…
Geekview Thanksgiving Edition – Gratitude for the Absurdities of IP (Part I)
I'm grateful that someone goes by the name Pitbull. Dog fighting is illegal, but that didn't stop Lindsay Lohan from filing a lawsuit this past summer against rappers Pitbull, Ne-Yo…
Geekview IP Week(ish) in Review
TV One claims BET and MTV stole the essence of the Essence. TV one recently sued BET and MTV for stealing its show. Literally! According to TV One, first BET…
#Occupy Trademarks: Who Owns the #Occupy Trademarks, and Is There Such a Thing?
A little over a week ago, my friend and colleague, Nancy Prager, posted on the indispensable e-Trademarks listserv some information on the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, an activist campaign…
Geekview IP week in Review — WTF Edition
I always suspected engaging in S&M might expose the participants to litigation. The accomplished photographer, artist and director, David LaChapelle, sued performing artist Rihanna for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair…
Apple Denied! TTAB Upholds Refusal to Register MULTI-TOUCH
Apple is known for innovation. Above on the left is Apple's revolutionary touch-screen device. Above on the right is a portion of the patent for this device. Apple's…
Frustrated Trademark Attorney Examines Frustrated Marks
Sometimes being a trademark lawyer can be frustrating. Sometimes just being a human can be frustrating! Several USPTO trademark registration applicants apparently thought frustration was such a common feeling they…