The NFT I Purchased Was Removed For ‘Copyright Infringement.’ How Is That Possible? **Attorney Advertising**
NFT marketplaces are exploding in 2022, offering new and exciting opportunities for investors and artists alike. On the flip side, NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology are still very much operating under “Wild Wild West” rules, and new legal issues are emerging as these platforms continue to grow and experience mass adoption. One huge issue that […]
Do I Need to Stop Using The “TM” Symbol If My Trademark Was Rejected? **Attorney Advertising**
The TM symbol can be used to put others on notice that you’ve filed for trademark protection of a particular word, logo, slogan, or any combination thereof. It may also be used by business owners who feel that they have common law rights to a particular brand or trademark. Again, the TM symbol does not mean […]
What to Know When Seeking to Trademark a Foreign Word or Phrase **Attorney Advertising**
Coming up with a unique name for a brand, good, or service that can ultimately be trademarked is challenging. To stand out, and apart, from competitors and those who may already have intellectual property rights, some business owners will look to foreign words that aren’t commonly known or understood by English-speaking consumers to represent their […]
How to Record Your Trademark with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol **Attorney Advertising**
Every day, counterfeit goods are imported into the United States from bad actors abroad. Common examples you may think of include knock-off Louis Vuitton purses or fake Nike shoes manufactured in China. The importation of such goods not only threatens the competitiveness of U.S. businesses, but it also causes confusion amongst consumers, and may even […]
Winnie the Pooh and Additional Works from 1926 Are Now Part of the Public Domain **Attorney Advertising**
Happy New Year! After enjoying 95 years of copyright protection, the public can now freely access and edit copyrighted materials from 1926 as part of the public domain. Notably, the beloved children’s character ‘Winnie the Pooh’ can now be used without restriction or a license from the original copyright holder. Other notable works released this […]
Molly Sims Lawsuit Should Be a Warning to Influencers to Think About Trademark and Copyright Infringement Risks **Attorney Advertising**
Once upon a time, paid endorsements were limited to celebrities (even D list celebs), sports stars, and famous experts. That’s all changed with social media where just about anyone with enough followers can become an “influencer” in a certain area or field. With that influence comes money. Every day, brands flock to influencers offering cash […]
YouTube Copyright Strikes: What to Know **Attorney Advertising**
If you receive a “copyright strike” from YouTube, it means that someone claiming to be the copyright owner has filed a legal takedown request with the platform, alleging infringement. If you are indeed violating someone’s copyright, YouTube will likely remove your video in order to comply with federal law. The mere removal of your video […]
Is a Product Superior Because it’s “Patent Pending?” **Attorney Advertising**
Tune into any episode of Shark Tank and you’ll hear contestants proudly working into their pitch that their invention is “patent pending,” as if this implies that the product is superior in some way and should be given an extra look by the sharks. Or maybe you’ve recently shopped on Amazon, and you’ve noticed sellers […]
3 Steps to Protect Ownership of Your Social Media Accounts **Attorney Advertising**
It’s not uncommon for employees or consultants to run a company’s socials media. But, without careful attention to the details, this arrangement can cause trouble for the business or brand if the person running the account decides to quit or gets fired in the future. The nightmare scenario that we unfortunately see too often is […]
The USPTO Files to Trademark Its Own Name in The War Against Scammers **Attorney Advertising **
Trademark applications are surging in the United States, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reporting a sixty percent increase in applications for the first six months of 2021 alone due to historic E-commerce growth. This increase in registrations has also resulted in a dramatic increase in trademark scams. Every day, third parties […]