Alt Legal IP News – Issue #83
Hannah Samendinger | April 10, 2018
Check out our latest episode of Alt Trademarks. This episode features Lauren D. Shinn of WIPO. We discuss her role at WIPO and recent updates to the UDRP.
Check the Filings
– Gamers may have found hints about the Nintendo Switch and a new “Pokémon Rumble” game in Nintendo’s trademark applications.
– Brandless, while minimalist in their branding, is still seeking a trademark registration, and their application has raised several issues.
-Asahd Khaled, who is not yet 2 years old, is already developing a personal brand, with 1.8 million Instagram followers and at least $17,000 spent (not including legal fees) on trademark applications for his name.
On the Screen
– A romantic comedy coming in June will be the first movie released with the help of blockchain technology, which may be a sign that Hollywood is warming up to this type of distribution.
– Richard Liebowitz, a photographer turned attorney, is filing copyright infringement lawsuits, including some against major media corporations, at a breakneck speed.
– The Duffer Brothers are being sued for alleged theft of the idea behind Stranger Things, but as mentioned in the complaint, both parties may have relied on the story of “Montauk,” a secret government project.
Copyright Corner
– For the first time in two decades, a large number of works will enter the public domain at once.
– Tech companies are keeping a close eye on NAFTA negotiations and the impact they might have on copyright issues.
– The Music Modernization Act is set to be introduced today, moving licensing reform one step closer to becoming a reality.
– PUBG, a game with many imitators, has decided one copycat went too far.
– This article presents an interesting perspective on the recent “Blurred Lines” case, offering an analysis by forensic musicologists.
Odds and Ends
– How much do you think Google’s digital babysitter charges?
– Amazon filed a patent for “voice sniffer technology” that analyzes your conversations.
– Today is Be Kind to Lawyers Day, so enjoy all of the gifs on Twitter, and thank you for all that you do!
– April 10th is also Equal Pay Day, which was created to raise awareness about pay disparity amongst men and women, especially women of color. In a timely opinion, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that employers cannot use prior salary amounts to justify continuing the gender pay gap, calling the gap an “embarrassing reality.”