Category: Podcast

Making the Trump Name Drumpf Again?

Making the Trump Name Drumpf Again? Making the Trump Name Drumpf Again? • 2016 06 13 trump trademark drumpf

The 2016 presidential contest once again pushed trademark law into the news. A few weeks ago, it was the Democrats. Now it’s the Republicans. Well, sort of. John Oliver’s late-night show aired a segment critical of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In the segment, Oliver pointed out that the Trump family name was originally “Drumpf” […]

Oracle’s APIs are Copyrighted, But Jury Decides Google’s Android Software Use is “Fair”

Oracle’s APIs are Copyrighted, But Jury Decides Google’s Android Software Use is “Fair” Oracle’s APIs are Copyrighted, But Jury Decides Google’s Android Software Use is “Fair” • 2016 06 07 oracle vs google jury decision

Many software companies, developers, and legal eagles have been watching Oracle’s and Google’s face-off over the question of whether Google’s Android software infringes a copyright Oracle acquired through its purchase of Sun Microsystems. After 6 years of legal wrangling, a jury recently found that Google’s Android system does not infringe Oracle’s copyright in Java code […]

Cheerleading Fashions Copyright Clash

Cheerleading Fashions Copyright Clash Cheerleading Fashions Copyright Clash • 2016 05 18 varsity sports

Can you copyright your fashions? In general, clothing designs: i.e., the cut and design of articles of clothing, are not protected by copyright law because the statute expressly excludes protection for “useful articles.” One of the murkiest issues in copyright law is how to determine what transforms a “useful article” otherwise not protected by copyright […]

Political Satire Gets ‘Berned’ on IP Laws

Political Satire Gets ‘Berned’ on IP Laws Political Satire Gets 'Berned' on IP Laws • 2016 05 13 berniesanders

The 2016 Presidential election campaign is in full swing and the world of IP law is not immune from it. But we aren’t talking about policy positions, we’re talking trademark and copyright. Last month, lawyers for the Bernie Sanders campaign sent a cease and desist letter to political satire gear creator Liberty Maniacs claiming that […]

Your Batmobile Might Be Infringing on IP Rights

Your Batmobile Might Be Infringing on IP Rights Your Batmobile Might Be Infringing on IP Rights • 2016 05 11 batmobile

Your car can be a copyrighted character. Ok, not really. But the Batmobile is. And other cars in films may be as well. DC Comics sued Gotham Garage for copyright infringement alleging that the custom “Batmobile” cars and car modification kits manufactured by Gotham Garage violated DC Comics’ copyrights. Gotham countered that cars are not […]

Star Trek Fan Fiction Gets the Ax-nar from Infringement

Star Trek Fan Fiction Gets the Ax-nar from Infringement Star Trek Fan Fiction Gets the Ax-nar from Infringement • 2016 05 05 star trek axnar podcast

Can you copyright a language? Or a species? Or a yellow shirt? CBS and Paramount who own copyrights to the Star Trek television series and movies sued Axnar Productions, Inc. and Alec Peters alleging copyright infringement based on their short film “Prelude to Axnar” and their crowd-funding campaign to produce a feature length film titled […]