I ♡ Trademarks NewsletterIssue #336
Bri Van Til | May 09, 2023
A Growing Trend
Little Leaf Farms has filed a trademark application for the shape of its lettuce leaves. I guess they aren’t going to leaf it unprotected! See the filing here.
TTAB has sided with the USPTO examining attorney who denied a trademark application for the name of a product the panel said was drug paraphernalia and therefore illegal, despite cannabis being legal in the applicant’s state.
A seed company is concerned about alleged cybersquatting on domains containing “rare seeds.” I’m not sure if they’ve botany other domains that they can use instead.
For Old Times’ Fake
Twitter policy updates have users scrambling to acquire blue checks to prove their accounts aren’t fake, leading to, of course, more fake accounts.
In an interesting Hail Mary, Tesla attorneys have alleged that recordings of Elon Musk talking about Tesla’s self-driving capabilities could be deepfakes.
Louboutin is waging another trademark war to protect its red soles from alleged infringers.
Show Me the Money
On average, what’s a nonequity biglaw partner worth?
Patent fees may increase by 5% or more. If you have something to say about that, chime in!
As I’m sure you probably know, the relative number of trademarks a company files in a year is often a predictor of its profitability.
The WGA writers’ strike hinges in part on how big a role AI is allowed to play in writing future screenplays. Would it be cheaper to just pay writers? Also, AI can’t write trademark puns, can it? I’m asking for a friend.
Professional Concerns
If you’re in the US, you’re probably Neer McDonald‘s. Unrelatedly, this firm is looking for a paralegal.
Relatedly, I’m lovin’ this opening for associate IP counsel at McDonald‘s.
Don’t see this listing for trademark counsel at Philip Morris go up in smoke!
Ballard Spahr—which is either a law firm or a fighting move that looks a lot like dancing—is looking for an IP associate or of-counsel.
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
Ed Sheeran was found not to have infringed the copyrights for Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It on.”
Tasmania finally has an AFL team, but it’s expected that Warner Bros. will oppose the team’s trademark application for TASMANIA DEVILS.
Can you accidentally create a franchise agreement? If you missed our webinar last week about franchising and licensing IP, check out the recording here.
Going to Singapore for INTA Annual? Meet up with the Alt Legal team! Also, don’t miss out on the Brand Action fundraiser (where you can also meet up with our team).