A new exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) allows McDonald’s employees, franchise owners, and others to fix McDonald’s often out-of-order ice cream machines. Prior to this exemption, most McDonald’s ice cream machines could be fixed only by the...
Intellectual Property & Technology
Copycats or Common Trends? Legal Battle Between Influencers Over “Clean Girl” Aesthetic
A recent lawsuit in Texas highlights the challenges social media influencers face in protecting their intellectual property. Sydney Nicole Gifford, a well-known influencer, claims that Alyssa Sheil copied her “vibe,” – specifically her “clean girl” aesthetic...
Understanding the Trademark Supplemental Register: Benefits and Limitations
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will not grant full registration to certain types of trademarks that are overly descriptive of the goods or services that the mark represents. These include generic and descriptive marks, last names, geographic...
What Can We Learn from California’s New AI Laws?
What Can We Learn from California’s New AI Laws? As a leading technology hub, it is no shock that California is at the forefront of technology regulation, including regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the past year, California lawmakers have introduced...
The Current and Evolving Landscape of AI in the United States: What’s Next?
The explosive growth and widespread adoption of generative machine learning and artificial intelligence technology solutions (collectively, AI) have left the U.S. in pressing need of comprehensive regulations governing the creation, use, and disclosure of AI. Much...
Domain Name vs. Trademarks: Understanding Brand Protection Essentials
Most business owners are keenly aware of the importance of a domain name that is both memorable and matches your company’s branding. However, when it comes to branding and brand protection, the most important tool for a brand owner is a federally registered trademark....
Find Your Own Beach: Corona Brand Owner Sues Distributor Over Imitated Brews
The beer industry may be booming, but it’s also under attack from a growing menace: imitation brands. Counterfeit products and "knock-off" brands don’t just threaten the revenue of legitimate brands – they can seriously damage. Consumers who unknowingly buy these...
Who Owns AI-Generated Content: You, the AI, or Nobody?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing many facets of our lives, from how we work to how we discover new recipes. However, as with any major change, there comes new legal issues lurking around the corner. One of those issues relates to the owner of AI generated...
Outkast Sues EDM Group Called “ATLiens” for Trademark Infringement
Hip-hop legends Outkast recently filed a lawsuit against an Atlanta-based EDM duo for trademark infringement and unfair competition over the use of the group’s name, “ATLiens.” Outkast claims it coined the term “ATLiens” (pronounced A-T-L-iens, a portmanteau of the...
Trademark Battle: Nike Sues Former Collaborator Over Custom Sneaker Designs
Nike recently filed suit in Federal Court in the Southern District of New York claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition by its former licensee, S2, Inc., owned by a popular shoe customizer named Dominic Ciambrone who is known as the “Shoe Surgeon”....