Alt Legal IP News – Issue #207
Bri Van Til | September 23, 2020
A Rose by Any Other Name…
– Tencent, the company that owns TikTok and WeChat, has renamed WeChat Work to WeCom and applied for a trademark for the new name to get around President Trump’s ban of the platforms.
– A countersuit has complicated the trademark fight for the name Lady A.
– An EU court has ruled that Banksy cannot use trademark law to protect his works in part because he remains anonymous.
– After a messi 9-year battle, this soccer star has secured an EU trademark for his surname.
Litigation Nation
– Litigation in Tiffany v. Costco—a question of whether “Tiffany” can be used as a generic term to describe a style of jewelry—was remanded to the district court for a jury trial.
– Codec creator DivX is suing Samsung for allegedly infringing four of its patents.
– Whether or not you see yourself as a litigator, litigation should inform your trademark prosecution. Come to Alt Legal Connect to hear Caroline Fox explain why and how. Use the code “newsletter” for a discount.
Picture Perfect
– Accusations of plagiarism have landed this comic book artist in trouble (again).
– A photographer attempted to sue a business for alleged use of his photograph of the Indianapolis skyline, but the judge ruled that he “used the threat of litigation costs to extract quick settlements.” He lost the suit and was ordered to pay $172,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
Professional Concerns
– Facebook has posted an ad for counsel, and they’d like you to apply.
– I’ve never heard of JellySmack before, but you’d be crazy not to try to be their counsel. If you won litigation for them, would you be laying the JellySmack down?
– Sleep Number is looking for counsel they can count on.
– This company is looking for Splunky counsel. It’s no JellySmack, but it’s pretty good.
– 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
– RIP, RBG. You were an amazing force to be reckoned with, and the world is a better place for your having lived in it.
– US Customs and Border Patrol seized thousands of OnePlus Buds that they thought were counterfeit AirPods. Oops.
– Despite or perhaps because of the pandemic, IP offices throughout the world are seeing record numbers of trademark applications.
– There has been an increasing gap in the bonuses of top-end and low-end partners, but is the day of reckoning coming?
– Read all about Karima Gulick, the host of the Gen Why Lawyer podcast and an aerospace engineer fluent in four languages. To hear her speak, come join us at Alt Legal Connect next month! Again, use the code “newsletter” to save on your ticket.
– How does Panda Restaurant Group protect its trademark from infringers, and how did the company adapt to the pandemic? Come join Alt Legal and the company’s GC and IP Counsel this Thursday for a webinar to learn about trademark protection in the restaurant industry.