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Right of Publicity Trademarks

And Down The Stretch They Come! Was Infringed, Says Sportscaster Dave Johnson

And down the stretch they come! It is a popular saying in horse racing, which was popularized by sportscaster and longtime ABC, CBS, ESPN and NBC voice Dave Johnson. It is also a phrase that is now the subject of a trademark infringement lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of […]

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Copyright

You Need A Copyright Registration Before Filing A Lawsuit, And Supreme Court Explains What That Means

What do you need in place prior to bringing an action for copyright infringement? That specific question was decided by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, et al.

Categories
Copyright

Costs In A Copyright Case Can Be Collected, But They Are Limited By Statute

Copyright infringement lawsuits must be brought in federal court. These cases are often filed by lawyers who not only think their clients can score a sizable judgment, but also have the opposition cover legal fees and costs. However, a new United States Supreme Court decision places a limit on what a prevailing party can actually […]

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Copyright Right of Publicity

No One Can Own A Dance Step, Says Fortnite Publisher In 2 Milly Lawsuit

Is it true that no one can own a dance step? That is what video game publisher Epic Games is arguing in a motion to dismiss that it filed on February 11 in a federal case that was brought by Terrence “2 Milly” Ferguson.

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Trademarks

Super Bowl Advertiser Expensify Sues Competitor For Trading Off Of Its Good Will

I thought that one of the better Super Bowl XLIII advertisements was delivered by Expensify, because it simply demonstrated the value of its service in an effective manner. It appears that a competitor is trying to benefit from Expensify’s Super Bowl exposure, which has led to the filing of a lawsuit by Expensify for trademark […]

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News

HEITNER LEGAL Takes Over Times Square

Branding is important in any industry. If you are familiar with HEITNER LEGAL, then you know that we take pride on our clients’ branding techniques as well as our diligence in protecting and enforcing intellectual property (such as trademarks) for our clients.

Categories
Entertainment Law

Rihanna To Father: Bitch Better Have My Money

Ultra-successful singer and performer Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has filed a federal complaint against her father Ronald Fenty and others. The Entertainment Law case is grounded in intellectual property, with claims that include invasion of privacy, false designation of origin and false advertising.

Categories
Gaming Law

What’s The Deal With The New Wire Act Opinion By The Dept Of Justice

The Wire Act prohibits individuals involved in the business of gambling from transmitting types of wagering-related communications over “the wires,” which includes the Internet. It was originally enacted in 1961 and later clarified, in 2011, as a measure that is limited to having an effect on sports gambling.

Categories
Trademarks

Pizza Hut In An Extra Saucy Trademark Dispute Over Official Pizza Of Football

While a federal trademark registration is required to initiate a trademark infringement action in federal court, that is not the only enforcement mechanism for fighting a mark that you believe to be threatening your own. In fact, there is another method of frustrating an applicant who is in the midst of trying to register its […]

Categories
Copyright

Supreme Court Set To Decide When A Copyright Case Can Be Filed Once And For All

The U.S. Supreme Court is not only looking at an interesting trademark case, but also a copyright concern that has the potential to have a major impact on copyright infringement litigation.