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Alt Legal Blog

Your source for news, updates and guidance on all things trademarks and intellectual property.

Alt Legal IP News – Issue #70

Hannah Samendinger | January 09, 2018
2 min read

Check out our latest episode of Alt Trademarks. This episode features Josh Jarvis of Foley Hoag. We discuss his role at the firm and his appearance in the recent “Don’t Say Velcro” video.

Feelin’ Futuristic

– While some legal jobs are on the decline, there are 40 practice areas that did not exist 15 years ago, many of which impact intellectual property law.

– Amazon is developing a mirror that will virtually dress you.

– Everyone is talking about blockchain so here is a quick summary of blockchain in trademarks.

So Famous

– Meet the man who invented the Super Soaker, or as it was known before a trademark-related name change, the Drencher.

– The marketing gymnastics surrounding the “Big Game” has begun.

– The general consensus is that there will likely not be a copyright extension before Congress this year, which means some Mickey Mouse products may enter the public domain in the near future.

– The “godfathers of corporate graphic design” highlight some tips for designing a great logo.

Music to My Ears

– Taylor Swift’s lawyer did some serious player hating in support of a motion to dismiss a copyright lawsuit.

– Radiohead is taking Lana Del Rey to court for alleged copyright infringement of “Creep.”  Compare the songs for yourself in the link.

– Spotify was hit with a $1.6BN lawsuit over a catalog of music including Tom Petty, Weezer, and The Doors.

– A musician uploaded a 10-hour video of continuous white noise to YouTube. So far 5 copyright infringement claims have been made against him.

Odds and Ends

– If copyright laws would not have changed in 1978, what would have entered the public domain on January 1, 2018?

– A judge has suggested Fenty may have defrauded the Patent and Copyright Offices while seeking protection for their designs.

– Here’s some copyright trivia for you: Some works can get longer copyright protection in Canada than the US.

– This article has a great slogan generator linked to the roughly 280 trademark applications filed for various ways to “Make ______ ______ Again.”

– The USPTO received more than 440,000 trademark applications in 2017, setting a new record.

– Check out this great gif-filled article about what companies often get wrong about trademarks.

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