Highlights of the latest intellectual property news from around the country.

Advertisers and marketers should watch <i>The Estate of Buckminster Fuller v. Maxfield &amp; Oberton Holdings, LLC</i> closely to see what limits may exist on their use of a name that has ties to a celebrity as well as a separate object.

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A recurring issue in intellectual property law is the possibility of establishing rights in subject matter from the public domain and drawing the boundaries between what is public and private. The issue arose in one guise in <i>Golan v. Holder</i>, 132 S.Ct. 873 (2012), which upheld the constitutionality of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (or, informally, Copyright Restoration Act), granting U.S. copyright protection to certain works that had passed into the public domain in the United States, but which were still protected in their country of origin.

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Under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, several new mechanisms allow third parties to challenge patent applications and patents. Among these is a new preissuance submission procedure by which members of the general public may submit prior art believed to be relevant to a pending patent application.

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Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.

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Fitch Ratings forecasts stability in its recently released report <i>2013 Outlook: U.S. Finance and Leasing Companies</i>.

The author of a new law that will bar companies from seeking their workers' social media passwords has introduced legislation to extend the protections specifically to public employees.

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As 2013 begins, franchising is being transformed by major investments in franchise systems by private equity funds. <i>FBLA</i> asked leading franchise attorneys how they see private equity affecting the industry, and their responses reflect widespread optimism that these investors are bringing much more than (the widely appreciated) funding that can fuel franchise expansion.