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Alt Legal Blog

Your source for news, updates and guidance on all things trademarks and intellectual property.

Alt Legal IP News – Issue #215

Bri Van Til | November 18, 2020
2 min read

Budding Controversy

– Ferrara Candy, the maker of Nerds, is suing a cannabis company for trademark infringement for its “Medicated Nerds Rope” product.

– Voters in four states opted to legalize recreational cannabis, so these authors recommend state trademark registration to protect cannabis brands there.

– Canadian cannabis company Hexo reached a settlement with a California-based company to stop the use of names related to HEXO.

– For more information about cannabis trademarks, check out Shabnam Malek and Amanda Conley’s talk from Alt Legal Connect (use the code “newsletter” for a discount) and Jessica Gonzalez’s webinar.

The Interwebs

– ISP company Cox Communications has been found liable for both vicarious and contributory copyright infringement and ordered to pay $1 billion for knowingly allowing subscribers to share and download infringing songs.

– A regional court in Dusseldorf is expected to hand down a decision in Nokia v. Daimler in about two weeks, which this author argues will be “the single most important court ruling in the (short) history of the [Internet of Things] industry.”

– Recent rulings about embedding have led to some serious questions about the server test precedent. Should sites worry about being embedded with the enemy?

The ’90s called, and they want to show you some BigLaw firm websites. Oh, they’re totally bodacious, dude!

– Canada is considering joining the slew of countries that will require tech companies to pay for linking to news articles.

Whatchu China Do?

China has amended its copyright laws significantly and has omitted a proposed provision that could have penalized owners for not sharing their property.

Does China’s legal system enable IP theft?

Professional Concerns

– This mysterious company is looking for in-house IP counsel.

– Check out this Newell position as chief IP counsel.

– The International Fund for Animal Welfare is looking for a top dog to be general counsel.

– Is it fair for you to be legal counsel at this retailer? Wayfair.

– The coolest IP docketing company ever is hiring a VP of marketing. Know someone? Send ’em our way!

– In addition to looking for a VP of marketing, we’re also looking for speakers for Alt Legal Connect 2021 and our ongoing Alt Legal Community webinar series. If you’re interested in speaking, we’d love to hear from you!

– 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 EFF is imploring the USPTO to avoid making any permanent rule changes before the new administration takes office.

What is trademark mutilation, and would you know it if you saw it?

– Whether you’ve been practicing virtually for ages or are still getting accustomed to this new way of working, come to our last webinar of the year, where Merlyne Jean-Louis will teach you how to make your virtual practice a success in real life.

– Looking for a gift idea for the science junkie in your life? Check out this book of Nikola Tesla’s patent applications.

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