Bryce Harper's application to trademark his famous retort: "That's a clown question, bro" is one of the latest examples of a growing trend: athletes seeking trademarks on nicknames, slogans and catchphrases. This isn't a new thing. But the latest rash of athlete applicants shows that it is happening more and more frequently.
The digital content era has moved patent issues to the forefront for the entertainment industry. In one recent case, even after winning a patent infringement case, a video-on-demand company still may not get an injunction prohibiting ongoing infringement by defendant Verizon Communications.
Many mid-size firms have been growing, aggressively. And, from the creative submissions we received, it is clear why.
In a decision that helps pave the way for Warner Brothers Entertainment and its DC Comics subsidiary to maintain their grip on the Superman franchise, District Judge Otis Wright II of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California rejected a bid by the estate of Superman co-creator Joe Shuster to reclaim partial control over the iconic superhero.
The question of whether a court has personal jurisdiction over the parties in a particular lawsuit is fundamental and often raised. The national scope of the entertainment industry ' from artist concert touring to the interstate distribution of music, motion picture, TV and other creative content ' certainly makes personal jurisdiction a common issue in entertainment litigations. This article examines several recent court rulings as examples of how judges today are determining whether personal jurisdiction exists in entertainment cases.
All the latest news in the franchising practice area.
Lawyers for Facebook Inc. are trying again to settle a suit related to its "Sponsored Stories" advertising feature after a federal judge rejected an earlier proposal.
This article summarizes the recent U.S. legislation regarding applicant privacy and the NLRB's social networking and employment policy guidelines. It also analyzes the state of social media and employment law in the EU, particularly France, the United Kingdom and Argentina as examples of law developing outside of the United States. Finally, this article provides recommendations for employers faced with complying with new laws governing the use of social media.
The next mass terrorism attack may not involve planes, trains or buildings. It very well may involve cyberspace and could be felt by Americans when their lights, computers or smart phones go on the fritz as networks are compromised.
Heralded as the next big thing in social media, Pinterest presents new legal risks for companies engaged in social media marketing. By sharing images and encouraging others to re-pin them, Pinterest users may inadvertently engage in copyright or trademark infringement, violate licensing agreements, or run afoul of FTC rules for commercial endorsements.
