In December 2024, we wrote about the many celebrities involved in the production of their own works and some of the resultant U.S. patent office activity. Many more celebrities have invented products not directly related to their day jobs. Below are tales about a few more and because its March, we thought it a perfect time to focus on some
You may notice that this is the first IP column by Z. Peter Sawicki with a new co-author! Fear not, James L. Young is still involved, sharing wisdom and providing editorial guidance, and is available to share practice tips and anecdotes in our musings about intellectual property. In this article, we want to discuss “firsts” when it comes to protecting
They often make it look so easy when celebrities entertain us in their movies, songs and dance routines. What we fail to typically appreciate are the intense production aspects behind what we see and hear. Many celebrities are involved in the production of their own works. On occasion, their involvement has led to unique innovations, some of which we can
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been newsworthy in our recent, 24/7 news cycles. Will AI harm us? Will AI eliminate human jobs, or provide shelter, food, and clothing so humans need not work? Some suggest that AI may turn against humans. You can rest easy; we will not go into those issues. Instead, we will focus on intellectual property, and specifically
Athletes and major sports organizations aren’t just participants in a game; they are powerful global brands that capture the hearts and attention of millions. Their influence extends far beyond the field, drawing fans into a world where every game, piece of merchandise and social media interaction matters. With great influence comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting intellectual
In the late 1950s – near the tail end of the baby boomer birth year bracket – the USA had just started construction of the nationwide interstate highway system, all telephones had rotary dials, there was no cable/satellite TV, to buy food you went to the grocery store and likely paid cash, and if you needed a prescription drug you
A cat stretched in a barracks; a prisoner observed this and then developed an invention that left a considerable mark on society. Who was the cat? No one really knows. Who was the prisoner? His name was Joseph Pilates. Sound familiar? Invention creation is intriguing and could be considered situational. For example, consider: (1) a failed experiment occurring in a
Last century, when we were kids and it came to mobile food our choices were limited – there were hot dog pushcarts, the musical ice cream man truck, and maybe an occasional trailer that had been converted into a walk-away diner. In the 1970s, taco trucks started showing up on the West Coast (LA), but it was not until “The
This unsettled question has been in dispute since 2015 when two European dairy consortiums – one from Switzerland and one from France – filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office seeking registration of GRUYERE as a “certification mark” for cheese. This filing did not sit well with the International Dairy Foods Association (among others), so they
“With great [brands] comes great responsibility.” — Uncle Ben Parker When it comes to proactive brand protection, the absolute best thing a company can do is to obtain a U.S. trademark registration. Obvious Trademark Registration Benefits Legal presumptions about the mark’s ownership and the owner’s right to use the mark. “Constructive notice” of the mark owner’s rights in that mark
In December 2024, we wrote about the many celebrities involved in the production of their own works and some of the resultant U.S. patent office activity. Many more celebrities have invented products not directly related to their day jobs. Below are tales about a few more and because its March, we thought it a perfect time to focus on some
You may notice that this is the first IP column by Z. Peter Sawicki with a new co-author! Fear not, James L. Young is still involved, sharing wisdom and providing editorial guidance, and is available to share practice tips and anecdotes in our musings about intellectual property. In this article, we want to discuss “firsts” when it comes to protecting
They often make it look so easy when celebrities entertain us in their movies, songs and dance routines. What we fail to typically appreciate are the intense production aspects behind what we see and hear. Many celebrities are involved in the production of their own works. On occasion, their involvement has led to unique innovations, some of which we can
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been newsworthy in our recent, 24/7 news cycles. Will AI harm us? Will AI eliminate human jobs, or provide shelter, food, and clothing so humans need not work? Some suggest that AI may turn against humans. You can rest easy; we will not go into those issues. Instead, we will focus on intellectual property, and specifically
Athletes and major sports organizations aren’t just participants in a game; they are powerful global brands that capture the hearts and attention of millions. Their influence extends far beyond the field, drawing fans into a world where every game, piece of merchandise and social media interaction matters. With great influence comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to protecting intellectual
In the late 1950s – near the tail end of the baby boomer birth year bracket – the USA had just started construction of the nationwide interstate highway system, all telephones had rotary dials, there was no cable/satellite TV, to buy food you went to the grocery store and likely paid cash, and if you needed a prescription drug you
A cat stretched in a barracks; a prisoner observed this and then developed an invention that left a considerable mark on society. Who was the cat? No one really knows. Who was the prisoner? His name was Joseph Pilates. Sound familiar? Invention creation is intriguing and could be considered situational. For example, consider: (1) a failed experiment occurring in a
Last century, when we were kids and it came to mobile food our choices were limited – there were hot dog pushcarts, the musical ice cream man truck, and maybe an occasional trailer that had been converted into a walk-away diner. In the 1970s, taco trucks started showing up on the West Coast (LA), but it was not until “The
This unsettled question has been in dispute since 2015 when two European dairy consortiums – one from Switzerland and one from France – filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office seeking registration of GRUYERE as a “certification mark” for cheese. This filing did not sit well with the International Dairy Foods Association (among others), so they
“With great [brands] comes great responsibility.” — Uncle Ben Parker When it comes to proactive brand protection, the absolute best thing a company can do is to obtain a U.S. trademark registration. Obvious Trademark Registration Benefits Legal presumptions about the mark’s ownership and the owner’s right to use the mark. “Constructive notice” of the mark owner’s rights in that mark
