When patent law first went on the books back in 1787, it was intended to provide incentives for innovation and to promote the progress of “the useful
Apple and Samsung Show the Importance of Design Patents
Rivals Apple and Samsung recently wrapped up a major smartphone patent lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In April 2011,
Should I Just Hand Over My Domain?
Real-life examples of trademark disputes are always interesting. Some cases are clear cut and quick to resolve, but many fall into the gray zone of
“Asexual Propagation Prohibited.” Say what?
Mother's Day hydrangeas have a little plastic tag stating, "PP #10,152 Asexual Propagation Prohibited. Bay City Flower Company, Inc." What's this? A
Take it Easy? Not When it Comes to Intellectual Property
Don Henley, singer and drummer of the Eagles, filed a lawsuit against clothing company Duluth Trading Co., claiming the company referenced his name
You Can’t Patent That
There has been much buzz about the recently discovered antibiotic Teixobactin. It is the first new antibiotic to be discovered in 3 decades. In lab
Craft Breweries Get Fractious About “Innovation”
Trademark disputes are very common in the business world. Most of the time, these disputes are worked out quietly between the affected parties. If,
Make a Brand, Protect a Brand
Good branding must start with the CEO, says Fran Kelly of CEOVIEW Branding. He says CEOs must become “Brand Champions” in order to be the most
Can Taylor Swift Trademark Her Lyrics?
Taylor Swift recently applied to trademark several phrases from her songs. In doing so, she is breaking new ground in testing the limits of the