Understanding Copyrights: Fair Use and “Who's on First”
The concept of “fair use” carves out an exception to the exclusive rights of copyright owners. As described on the Stanford University Libraries web page…
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Judge Dismisses Case over Alleged Copying of Warcraft Characters
A federal judge in Northern California dismissed a complaint by the makers of World of Warcraft and other games alleging that mobile game developers had copied the games’ characters.
→ Read MoreAnne Frank Foundation Extends Copyright on Diary
Anne Frank became posthumously famous worldwide for the journal she kept while she and her family and friends were hiding from the Nazis in a “secret annex” in an office building. The foundation that owns the copyright to Ann’s famous diary and collects royalties on its sales was started by her father, Otto Frank, and is now seeking to extend the copyright for the diary, which could end in just two short weeks.
→ Read MoreArtist Sues Restaurant for Ripping Off His Tattoo (Ouch!)
Are tattoos copyrightable? Who owns a tattoo, the tattoo artist or the person upon whom the tattoo is inked?
→ Read MoreThe Case of the Dueling Dumplings: A Trade Secret Dispute
When most people think of trade secrets, they think high-tech — like the design of a new computer chip. But did you know that food and drinks can also be the subject of trade secret protection? Here is the tale of two dumplings.
→ Read MoreGame Mods and Car Hacks Now Legal Under Copyright Law
The US Copyright Office (which is part of the Library of Congress) recently adopted new guidelines on types of activities that won’t be considered illegal under US copyright law. Find out about the game hacks and car hacks that are now allowed under copyright law.
→ Read MoreHoly Copyright Law, Batman! The Batmobile is a Protected Character
In 2011, DC Comics, now part of Warner Bros., sued Mark Towle, creator of famous car replicas from movies and TV, alleging infringement of DC’s copyrights and trademarks in the Batmobile. Does copyright law extend to fictional cars? Find out what the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said.
→ Read MoreShould It Be Legal to Sell Used Print Cartridges?
What if you could get sued for selling your used technology — your old cell phone, your flat-screen TV, or even your empty print cartridges? That possibility is being considered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a case involving Lexmark toner cartridges and the company’s attempt to control what the consumer can do with the cartridges after they are bought.
→ Read MoreHow Brands Like Google Try to Avoid Trademark Genericide
Google had a potential trademark embarrassment recently when it turned out the mark ALPHABET is already in use by carmaker BMW. Some have suggested that Google adopted the Alphabet name with a view toward the day when “Google” loses its status as a trademark through a process called “genericide,” when a former brand name loses its trademark status because consumers come to identify the name of the product or service with the product or service itself. rn
→ Read MoreJudge Says EOS Lip Balm Case Should Go to Jury
A federal judge in Colorado refused to grant summary judgement for a competitor in a design patent infringement case involving the popular eos Smooth Sphere lip balm. The question is whether or not OraLabs’ Lip Revo product infringes the design patent for eos Smooth Sphere.
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