Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Home Topics

Litigation

Features

Seeing Green: Protecting Brands In the Cannabis Industry Image

Seeing Green: Protecting Brands In the Cannabis Industry

David S. Gold

Branding is not a new concept, nor are the various intellectual property laws that protect brands. What is new to most is how this burgeoning industry can take advantage of those laws within the context of state and federal restrictions.

Features

Rights and Obligations In Patent Licenses Image

Rights and Obligations In Patent Licenses

Tom Gushue

The owner of a commercially successful patent may have competing desires. On one hand, the patent owner wants to protect the patent and secure its maximum benefit; on the other hand, the patent owner wants to avoid enforcement litigation with competitors because it is expensive and puts the patent at risk.

Features

SCOTUS to Address Whether Lanham Act Requires Willful Infringement for Profit Disgorgement Image

SCOTUS to Address Whether Lanham Act Requires Willful Infringement for Profit Disgorgement

Norman C. Simon & Patrick J. Campbell

The decision in Romag Fasteners v. Fossil will bring welcome uniformity, ending the status quo where eligibility to recover profits under the Lanham Act depends on which court is deciding the dispute

Features

The Interaction of International Law and U.S. Copyright–Assignment Terminations Image

The Interaction of International Law and U.S. Copyright–Assignment Terminations

Stan Soocher

That U.S. copyright-assignment termination issues are among the most complex in the copyright field becomes even more apparent when attempts to reclaim copyrights involve aspects of international law. Few courts have ruled, however, on the impact of international law on U.S. copyright-assignment terminations. The most recent to do so is the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Ennio Morricone Music Inc. v. Bixio Music Group Ltd.

Features

When Boilerplate, Customized Clauses Collide in Media Merger Deals Image

When Boilerplate, Customized Clauses Collide in Media Merger Deals

James H.S. Levine & Douglas D. Herrmann

Some contract provisions will necessarily be customized for use in the particular agreement, while others will be boilerplate. But the intersection of those provisions in a merger agreement involving the acquisition of Cablevision Systems Corp led to a serious dispute— and cautionary tale for the merger-laden entertainment and media industries — about interpretation of the agreement, requiring a Delaware court to determine the impact of potentially conflicting language.

Features

Limit in Supreme Court Striking Down Ban On 'Scandalous' Trademarks Image

Limit in Supreme Court Striking Down Ban On 'Scandalous' Trademarks

Brian R. Michalek

In the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Iancu v. Brunetti, Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissent cautioned that the decision is likely to pave a path to a "coming rush to register [vulgar, profane, or obscene] trademarks." The reasoning stems from the court's majority finding that a portion of 15 U.S.C. §1052 — which had previously prohibited the registering of "immoral" or "scandalous" trademarks — is unconstitutional. Practically speaking, however, this "coming rush" will likely not be the case, even via the entertainment industry.

Features

11th Circuit Sides With Attorney Sued Over Prince Concert Snafu Image

11th Circuit Sides With Attorney Sued Over Prince Concert Snafu

Greg Land

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit claiming a Florida lawyer failed to follow through on a $75,000 deal to land the late mega-musician Prince for a 2012 gig.

Features

CA Appeal Ct. On Defamation Claims Against Bill Cosby Image

CA Appeal Ct. On Defamation Claims Against Bill Cosby

Suzette Parmley

The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, ruled in favor of actress and former supermodel Janice Dickinson in her 2015 suit against comedian Bill Cosby over comments his then-attorney Marty Singer made to the press.

Columns & Departments

Bit Parts Image

Bit Parts

Stan Soocher

Former Accountant for W.C. Handy Estate Can Proceed with Defamation Claims Against Estate's Trustee and Lawyer

Features

Legal Tech: Summer 2019 E-Discovery Case Law Review Image

Legal Tech: Summer 2019 E-Discovery Case Law Review

Mike Hamilton

A review of recent cases involving e-discovery.

Need Help?

  1. Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
  2. Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
    This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
    Read More ›
  • Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
    Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
    Read More ›
  • The Stranger to the Deed Rule
    In 1987, a unanimous Court of Appeals reaffirmed the vitality of the "stranger to the deed" rule, which holds that if a grantor executes a deed to a grantee purporting to create an easement in a third party, the easement is invalid. Daniello v. Wagner, decided by the Second Department on November 29th, makes it clear that not all grantors (or their lawyers) have received the Court of Appeals' message, suggesting that the rule needs re-examination.
    Read More ›