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Intellectual property licenses can be important in various situations ranging from large scale strategic transactions and IP litigation to day-to-day lower profile transactions. Even the latter can have far-reaching impact on a company’s proprietary assets, particularly if certain IP-related concerns are overlooked. Foley Hoag presents a webinar covering a range of traps and tips related to IP licenses, including: Identifying less obvious IP licenses in commercial agreements Addressing ownership and rights to IP or technology…
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It’s been rough weather for Google in France. Three weeks after the French ‎Data Protection Authority imposed a record fine against Google for non-compliance with the GDPR, the Paris District Court (“Tribunal de Grande Instance”) invalidated 38 clauses of Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for Google+, the Internet-based social media network owned and operated by Google. This decision was rendered on February 12, 2019 in an action that was initiated against Google…
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On March 4, 2019, the United States Supreme Court held that, with certain exceptions, a copyright owner must obtain a copyright registration certificate from the Copyright Office  before filing a copyright infringement suit. The unanimous opinion in Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.Com, LLC, authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, affirmed the Eleventh Circuit and resolved a split among the circuit courts of appeal. It also has big implications for copyright owners. The…
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Michael Best secured a $325,000 judgement and permanent injunction on behalf of their client, Custom Dynamics LLC, against Lite Cycle for trademark infringement of their products. Custom Dynamics is a seller of LED lighting and other electronic equipment for motorcycles. A former distributor of Custom Dynamics, operating under the name Lite Cycle, was found to be selling counterfeit products of several Custom Dynamics’ registered and unregistered trademarks. As a result, the trial court awarded Custom…
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On January 11, 2019, the Cancellation Division of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) rendered a surprising decision that revoked in its entirety the McDonald’s Company’s BIG MAC trademark registration, which had been registered in the EU since December 1998. This is the latest chapter in a fight between McDonald’s and Supermac’s, a competing chain that operates fast-food restaurants in both parts of Ireland. The fight started in 2014, when Supermac’s wanted to expand…
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If you haven’t heard already, New York Fashion Week is here! As usual, a lineup of awe-inspiring shows is expected to roll out over the next several days, as it does every September and February, highlighting the latest fashion trends of some of world’s most famous designers.  One of the big stories surrounding New York Fashion Week this year is the amount of cultural diversity expected to appear on the runway.  The Council of Fashion …
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In an interesting case pending before the TTAB, law students from the Suffolk University IP and Entrepreneurship Clinic have opposed an application filed by United Trademark Holdings, Inc. to register RAPUNZEL as a trademark for dolls and toy figures.  The students, led by clinic director Loletta “Lolita” Darden, represent Professor Rebecca Curtin, a trademark law professor and mother of a young girl who has purchased dolls.  The Salt Lake City firm of Workman Nydegger…
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If you have ever been tasked with considering what types of intellectual property protection were available for a new packaging design, copyright may not be the first thing that came to mind. After all, it is trademark law that is designed to protect the public’s association with a commercial name or logo, and in some cases the distinctive look (or “trade dress”) of a product and/or its packaging. Copyright, on the other hand, was designed…
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Who said there’s no looking back? It is crucial to consider key takeaways from the most important IP cases from 2018 when planning for 2019. Foley Hoag presents a webinar offering guidance on what we learned this year and what to prepare for in the new year. Our speakers focus on 2018 developments in copyright, patent and trademark law. Speakers Peter Sullivan, Partner, Foley Hoag David Kluft, Partner, Co-Chair, Advertising & Marketing Practice,…
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We are pleased to announce a new addition to our collection of IP-focused blog posts directed to start-up companies, this one focusing on cybersecurity.  Here is the complete collection: Trademark Strategies for Start-Up Companies Copyright Strategies for Start-Up Companies Patent Strategies For Start-Up Companies Domain Name Strategies for Start-Up Companies Privacy and Data Security Strategies for Start-Up Companies Foley Hoag provides a full range of services to start-up companies, particularly in the areas of high…