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Yale wins for choosiest law school
Today is Monday, the 101st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Leser v. Garnett, a Maryland case in which the justices upheld the validity of the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote. Here are some other news items. — Yale emerges as choosiest law school. — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen […]
Ledo Pizza settles trademark lawsuit with Postmates
Ledo Pizza has reached an undisclosed settlement in a trademark lawsuit against food delivery service Postmates. Postmates allows consumers to use a website or mobile phone application to order products from local businesses and have them delivered. Postmates charges a fee for the delivery. In a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore last […]
Attorney, client look back at contentious Ocean City trademark suit
OCEAN CITY — The reason there aren’t tourists walking around with shirts advertising “Shorebilly” beer is because of a contentious trademark case that could be a cautionary tale for new businesses. Donna Thomas, an attorney with Astrachan Gunst Thomas P.A. in Baltimore, discussed the lawsuit at the Maryland State Bar Association’s Legal Summit and Annual […]
Patent ‘death squad’ system upheld by Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld an administrative review system that has helped Google Inc., Apple Inc. and other companies invalidate hundreds of issued patents.
MSBA session will talk fashion, intellectual property
Maryland isn’t a major fashion hub like Los Angeles or New York, but there is an artistic community whose members need advice about how to protect their intellectual property, from clothing designs to identifying marks. “In my experience, just working with local designers in a pro bono sense, there is a scene here,” said Nicholas Hawkins, […]
Gene Simmons seeks trademark for use of hand gesture by musicians
The lead singer of Kiss wants a trademark on musicians’ use of a popular hand gesture. Gene Simmons’ trademark application for the gesture with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is for its use as a mark in entertainment: “namely, live performances by a musical artist; personal appearances by a musical artist.” The Hollywood Reporter reported the application Wednesday[...]
Baltimore settles with ex-partners in Light City festival
A lawsuit over ownership of the Light City trademark has settled just weeks after the festival celebrated its second year in Baltimore, according to federal court filings. Details of the settlement were not available Monday, when U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander issued a settlement order dismissing the case, including all counterclaims. The city sought […]
Jury awards Md. firm Zenimax $500M in suit against Facebook
SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook’s virtual-reality subsidiary and two of its founders are facing a sobering reality after a jury hit them with a $500 million bill for violating the intellectual property rights of video-game maker ZeniMax Media. The verdict reached Wednesday in a Dallas federal court represents about one-fourth of the $2 billion that Facebook […]
Former Light City partners file counterclaim against Baltimore city
The former partners in Baltimore’s Light City festival being sued by the city over the trademark to the name responded Friday with counterclaims for unfair competition, trademark infringement, fraud and civil conspiracy. The city is seeking a court order to block What Works Studio LLC and Light City LLC from using the phrase “Light City” […]
Supreme Court turns away Redskins appeal in trademark case
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has rejected a long-shot appeal from the Washington Redskins challenging a law that bars offensive trademarks. But the justices could still resolve the same issue in another case the court took up last week. The court on Monday turned away an unusual request to hear the team’s case even before […]
Donna M.D. Thomas: A new ‘Slant’ on the Redskins’ trademark case
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a landmark decision last month holding that the prohibition on registration of “disparaging” trademarks under § 2(a) of the Lanham Act is unconstitutional because it violates the First Amendment. The Lanham Act provision that the In re Tam court found to be unconstitutional has been […]
Redskins: US has approved many ‘offensive’ trademarks
RICHMOND, Va. — The Washington Redskins are defending their federal trademark registration by listing many companies with offensive names that the government has approved. Among the registered names cited by the NFL team are Take Yo Panties Off and Dago Swagg clothing, Midget Man condoms and inflatable sex dolls and Baked By A Negro bakery […]
