I ♡ Trademarks NewsletterIssue #422
Alt Legal Team | February 25, 2025
Source Code
The fight over the term WordPress has gotten more complicated, and some worry that the owner’s seemingly proactive measures might actually damage the brand.
China’s Supreme People’s Court has ruled that ByteDance infringed Meishe’s copyrights and misused its trade secrets when it allegedly copied the company’s code. They’ve ordered ByteDance to pay over $11 million in damages.
Here’s an exploration of the Copyright Office’s treatment of code partially produced by AI.
The ROIght Conference for You
With tickets currently under $400 for 5 hours of CLE credit, roundtable discussions, and tons of networking with likeminded trademark professionals (not to mention yours truly), the I ♡ Trademarks Conference is a fabulous value. Get your tickets today (and use the code “newsletter” for an additional discount)!
What should you do at the I ♡ Trademarks Conference, INTA, ABA-IPL, and other conferences to turn your contacts into connections? Join us for this webinar in April to learn all about it.
This discussion about how to pack and prep for INTA can be beneficial for newbies and veterans alike.
Brand Action’s annual fundraiser is coming to San Diego during the INTA Annual Conference. It might not earn you a return, but you’ll get a lot of values out of it.
Likelihood of Confusion
Pepperdine University is suing Netflix for alleged trademark infringement in the network’s upcoming Running Point series.
How can M1 be confused with NY? When it’s in this logo that the Taiwan IP Office recently canceled.
Tool company Stanley Black & Decker is alleging that Pacific Market International—maker of Stanley cups (not to be confused with the Stanley Cup)—has violated the companies’ previous coexistence agreement. For a discussion of coexistence agreements, check out this roundtable discussion during the I ♡ Trademarks Conference.
Professional Concerns
This senior IP attorney position might be the missing Ingredion in your recipe for career happiness.
I don’t know all the details about this IP counsel position, but you can find the ASICS here.
If you decide to Purdue this position as IP counsel, you could have a great career and help promote university research.
After you chop down the competition for this senior IP counsel position at VF Corporation, make sure to yell “Timber(land)!” so everyone gets out of the way. They can flee in their Vans. As they think back on it, those who are Smartwool know you were a better fit for the job.
Have an open role on your team? Send a link to your job listing to [email protected], and we’ll publish it in our next newsletter.
Odds and Ends
Those wanting to file non-use cancellation proceedings in China will now need to provide evidence.
USPTO Trademark Commissioner David Gooder will finish his term this week; Dan Vavonese will be Acting Commissioner until another is appointed.
As people debate expanding copyrights in response to AI developments, this EFF op-ed explores issues of AI, copyrights, licenses, labor practices, free expression, and more.
Don’t miss the next episode of the TMA Talk Show, where WTR editor Victoria Arnold-Rees will interview TMA superstar Rosa Jimenez about basically being amazing. Which she is.
This op-ed likens the US Congress to Aspirin and basically argues they should protect their trademark. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen genericide used as an analogy like this. Fascinating stuff.