Everyone’s favorite beloved high-quality American brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A., a société anonyme legally organized under the laws of Belgium, recently tried to protect an unusual bit of intellectual property: the sound of a Budweiser can opening. “Wait, doesn’t that sound like any kind of can opening? How can that be a trademark?” If you’re asking these questions, congratulations, you’re a reasonable human being. So can A-B protect that sound as a trademark?
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Keep it Legal Blog
Can a Business Prevent Bad Reviews?
September 23, 2014
I recently wrote about the enforceability of online arbitration agreements. Now there’s a new law on the books that may affect many online – and real-world – contracts in California. On September 9, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law banning non-disparagement clauses in consumer contracts. So what does this have to do with Yelp? And can a business prevent bad reviews?
Disney v. Deadmau5 Trademark Battle
September 16, 2014
Is there room in the trademark world for more than one cartoon mouse? Disney doesn’t seem to feel that there is, and they’ve finally decided to take action against one of the world’s most popular electronic music artists.
Social Media Law: Can an Employee be Fired for a Facebook Like?
September 9, 2014
Time for another social media law update. Last year a federal appeals court ruled that Facebook “Likes” are speech protected by the First Amendment. Now the National Labor Relations Board has issued a ruling concerning an employee who was fired for liking another employee’s Facebook status update – which, as you might expect, was critical of the company.
