#DupeInfringement: When Social Media “Dupes” Cross the Trademark Line
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 26, Issue 15
The fun internet trend of promoting “dupes” has officially crossed the trademark line and everyday content creators are finding themselves in the crosshairs of multimillion-dollar corporate lawsuits.
Battling AI Misuse with Trademark Law May Be “Alright” for Actor Matthew McConaughey
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 26, Issue 7
Matthew McConaughey recently obtained several trademark registrations with the U.S. Trademark Office in an effort to digitally capture and protect his entire persona.
Clothing by any other name: The Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 25, Issue 19
Trademark owners are advised to conduct searches for translations of any foreign terms in their proposed marks before selection to avoid this faux pas.
Tick-Tock; Is Time Up on TikTok?
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 25, Issue 3
What may be a mere source of entertainment for the general population also serves as a lucrative source of income for many who use the platform to promote goods and services or their public opinion on relevant news topics.
The Battle to Protect “WORDLE”
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 24, Issue 16
The online word game Wordle was created in 2021 by Josh Wardle and quickly rose in popularity. Players receive a new puzzle daily with six chances to correctly guess a five-letter word of the day with limited clues.
Trump “Never Surrender” Sneakers: Could They Surrender To Louboutin Red Bottoms?
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 24, Issue 7
We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do, We’ve Got Spirit, Don’t Get Sued.
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 23, Issue 19
School names and their indicia are now a big source of revenue and local schools’ merchandise is found alongside college and pro sports merchandise. However, included with the increased visibility from the monetization and use of school names and mascots are trademark infringement risks.
No More Discord Over This Chord: Sheeran Sings His Way To Copyright Win
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 23, Issue 10
Ed Sheeran recently successfully defended against a copyright infringement lawsuit over his 2014 hit “Thinking Out Loud.” Songwriter Ed Townsend’s heirs brought the suit alleging Sheeran had infringed Townsend’s copyrights in the 1973 Motown classic, “Let’s Get It On” which Townsend co-authored with Marvin Gaye.
Trick-or-Treat: Trademark Infringement or Harmless Halloween Fun?
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 22, Issue 22
Consumers have grown accustomed to seeing knock-off costumes based on popular celebrities and movie or book characters. Some of these knock-off costumes, while attempting to skirt intellectual property violations, are providing unexpected humor for shoppers.
The European Union Refuses to “THINK DIFFERENT”
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 22, Issue 13
Apple loses its EU registration for the iconic THINK DIFFERENT trademark. Attorney Linda Callaghan unravels this cautionary tale in trademark law.