I ♡ Trademarks Newsletter Issue #440
Bri Van Til | July 15, 2025
Sign up for Alt Legal’s mildly humorous, pun-filled “I ♡ Trademarks” weekly newsletter to stay current on all things trademarks and IP.
Developing Mark(et)s
If you missed our webinar last week, check out Ricardo Enrique Antequera’s tips for effectively serving clients in emerging economies, but also know that they’re great tips for serving clients anywhere.
Part of Nigeria’s plan to boost its tourism economy is to better ensure IP protections.
So far this year, Jordan has registered 42 patents. And by that, I mean the country, not a single person. Imagine the hype there’d be in the sneaker world if (Michael) Jordan had had 42 patents registered this year.
To learn more about trademarks in the Middle East and North Africa—including in Jordan—sign up for this webinar next month.
Uganda is warning that over 2000 trademarks will be deleted from the register because they’ve expired and owners haven’t renewed them.
Learn a Living
What’s it like working on the IP team at a university? Read all about this fascinating hybrid of firm and in-house practice.
Look at Illinois State’s cool multi-disciplinary, integrated program aimed at teaching college students about IP.
Don’t let the trademark paralegals and administrators that you work with miss this fabulous one-day conference in Chicago in September. It’ll give ’em Summit to talk about for days! Use the code “newsletter” (all lowercase) for a discount.
This event later this month will focus on the intersection of AI and IP.
Video Games Killed the Radio Star
A trademark filing led fans to get super excited about a new Metroid reboot, but there haven’t been any plans announced. Does that mean they’re trying to S(c)amus? Nah. I just wanted to make that pun.
Video game voice actors have finally come to an agreement with studios, ending their nearly year-long strike, including about AI replicas. The strike was similar to the writers’ and actors’ strike a few years ago.
Nintendo won a copyright infringement case in China, but they were awarded less than $28,000 for over 500,000 infringing consoles. I don’t think the award will console them at all.
Professional Concerns
Keep your Ionis patent attorney position and apply if it fits your skill set.
If you get an interview for this IP docketing specialist position, make sure to show up with Belles on.
You’ll thrive in this commercial counsel position no matter what Rubrik they use to assess you.
Get your booty over to this site to apply to be senior legal counsel at Pirate Ship.
If you have a GEnuine interest in healthcare, check out this listing for IP counsel.
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
WIPO Magazine did an extensive edition dedicated to AI and music, and it’s got tons of great content.
We’ve talked at length about submarine trademarks and how they can get your clients international priority without disclosing to the world what they’re doing. Read all about how to use this strategy when filing in Trinidad and Tobago. Also, am I the only one that thinks the country needs a power couple name? That’s a lot of syllables to say every time. Tobidad? Trinago?
The shape of a Rubik’s Cube isn’t protectable with a trademark, says a judge in Europe.
Okay, folks: I have a personal appeal to you. The Brand Action team is trying to buy an ambulance to send to save lives on the front lines in Ukraine. I will personally be partnering with someone from LUkraine to drive the ambulance from Luxembourg to Lviv. Will you contribute to our fund?
A seven-year-old case about whether floor plans are protected by copyright has been decided. Just to be clear, the floor plans are fair use, but the homes themselves aren’t.