Alt Legal IP News – Issue # 195
Bri Van Til | June 30, 2020
Have a Drink on Me
– A Bordeaux forger in Shanghai was fined and sentenced to 18 months in prison for counterfeiting Bordeaux.
– The heirs of Hubert Hansen, founder of Hansen’s Natural Sodas, have been awarded $17 million in damages and legal fees in their suit against Coca Cola.
– As we’ve reported, applications related to Black Lives Matter have soared since George Floyd’s death. Recent BLACK LIVES MATTER trademark applications have included goods like teddy bears and even wine.
Stereotypes
– Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, and Eskimo are examples of companies’ recent moves to remove racist stereotypes from their branding, but advertising professor James Chambers explains that consumers equate ethnicity with authenticity.
– The niece of one woman who portrayed Aunt Jemima worries that to remove Aunt Jemima is to “erase a part of history.”
– As companies have intentionally abandoned these racist and stereotyping trademarks, applicants have swooped in to try to capitalize on the well-known brands.
Like, Comment, Subscribe
– Social media can be a great and inexpensive way to promote your firm’s services. Come join our webinar on July 16th to hear social media greats Aiden Durham, Stacey Kalamaras, and Stephen Stanwood discuss how to use social media to promote your firm.
– A Federal Court judge in New York has granted a motion to reconsider the case about social media photo embedding and copyright infringement.
– Twitter has permanently suspended for copyright infringement the account of Carpe Donktum, the pro-Trump meme creator who doctored the video of the hugging toddlers.
Professional Concerns
– Honeywell has a sweet opening for general counsel.
– Now you’re Cognizant of the fact that this company’s hiring a licensing and commercialization attorney.
– The University of Texas at El Paso is seeking a Chief Legal Officer. It’s unclear whether this entails wearing a badge.
– Ropes & Gray is looking for a diversity and inclusion specialist. I know a diverse group of candidates I’d like them to include in their search (yep, I mean you lovely folks!).
– If you missed Lindsey Corbin and Elissa Blabac’s webinar about how to be a virtual paralegal, check out the recording and slides here.
– Have an open role on your team? Send a link to your job listing to community@altlegal.com, and we’ll publish it in our next newsletter.
Odds and Ends
– The “copyright troll” we mentioned recently is now facing disbarment in addition to a $100,000 sanction for dishonesty and defying court orders.
– Amazon has launched a Counterfeit Crimes Unit to address counterfeit items listed on the retailer’s site.
– Stan Lee’s daughter has been ordered to pay $1 million (and her attorneys another $250,000) for “meritless litigation” against POW! Entertainment.
– Hot off the presses: the Supreme Court has sided with Booking.com; a generic word plus a top-level domain equals a trademarkable term.
– In observance of Independence Day, there will be no Alt Legal virtual happy hour this week. However, feel free to send me updates about all the wonderful real-life happiness you have!