Design Patent Enforcement
Enforcement of Design Patents is expensive. A new law, if passed, will allow inventors to stop infringing products easier and cheaper.
What Does a Patent Do ?
One of the first questions many inventors ask is: What Does a Patent Do, and Why Should I get a patent? What Does a Patent Do? A patent is a grant from the government which provides the receiver of a patent the exclusive right to their invention for a fixed period of time. In exchange, Read more about What Does a Patent Do ?[…]
Copyright Music – 101 Series
Copyright music, protects two different types of works. Copyright protects the musical composition (the song) and the sound recording. Depending on your artist agreement, you may have the right to re-record and resale your music.
Trademarking Images of Uncle Sam
Trademarking Governmental Symbols Trademark Law protects a business from unlawful competition by preventing consumer confusion. Trademarks can be a word, symbol, phrase, sound, scent, packaging or look and feel used to distinguish a particular manufacturer’s or seller’s products from the products of another. Generally, trademarks make it easier for consumers to identify the source of Read more about Trademarking Images of Uncle Sam[…]
Iron Man 3 Copyright Infringement claims dismissed
As recently illustrated in the Iron Man 3 Poster Lawsuit, direct evidence of copying is hard to prove in copyright infringement cases. Proof of infringement is often shown by proving: That there is a substantial similarity between the copy and the original; and that the copier had access to the original work.
Trade Secret Protection
Trade Secret Protection allows a business to prevent unlawful disclosure or use of its proprietary information including its financial, business, scientific, technical, economic or engineering information methods and processes. Generally, to qualify the information must not be generally known and must be of value to the business.
New Copyright Court
New Copyright Court Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Senate version of the Copyright Small Claims Bill. That bill, known as the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2019 now moves out of committee and will go the floor to be voted on by the full Senate. An identical companion bill, H.R. Read more about New Copyright Court[…]
Acknowledging Use
Acknowledging Use of a Photograph Many people believe they can use someone else’s work as long at they acknowledge that the work belongs to someone else. However, using someone else’s photo is not permissible just because they provide credit to the photographer. If someone has permission to use a photo, then they have permission. If Read more about Acknowledging Use[…]
Photograph Fair-Use
When is use of a Photograph Fair-Use? Copyright Infringement Generally, use of someone else’s photograph is infringement, it is not Fair-Use. Copyright Infringement occurs when someone uses a photograph without the permission of the photographer. The use can include use on the internet, on a webpage, social media, media, advertisement or marketing use. Copyright Infringement Read more about Photograph Fair-Use[…]