Alt Legal IP News – Issue #138
Justin Wickersham | May 07, 2019
What the Future Holds
– The USPTO has set a timeline for a series of tech upgrades.
– There is a growing push to loosen the laws around Psilocybin (mushrooms). Will the changes impact intellectual property like the campaign for cannabis did?
– In the future, will there be patent wars without fighting?
Household Names
– Disney may have found the easiest way to paint a castle.
– Target is seeking dismissal of Atari’s claims that the company counterfeited Pong products.
– Nespresso recently filed a lawsuit against a company for using the phrase “Nespresso Compatible,” raising questions about fair use in comparative and compatibility advertising.
– In a “close call,” Williams Sonoma has the initial advantage in a lawsuit against Amazon.
Up for Debate
– Louis Vuitton is on the brink of a bi-national trademark dispute over Pooey Puitton.
– Zillow is suing Compass for allegedly stealing intellectual property.
– A South Carolina lawyer is suing his son for starting a law firm with their shared name.
Odds and Ends
– A wine copycat has been ordered to pay over $800,000 for trademark infringement in China.
– At-home fitness companies, like Peloton, are learning the value of seeking the appropriate licensing rights. A cycling class without a playlist of hits makes for annoyed customers.
– This bill may help curb patent trolls.
– Yale Law Women put together a report on the top ten firms for gender equity and family friendliness. While the report highlights some progress, it also shows the legal community has a long way to go.