In a story that carries no trace of irony whatsoever, the US Patent & Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has ruled in a dispute between two television producers over the title WHAT WOULD JESUS DO.
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Keep it Legal Blog
Music Copyright Issue: Can a Restaurant Owner be Personally Liable for Playing Unlicensed Music?
June 17, 2014
Recently, I was watching a hockey game on TV with some friends. During the breaks in the action, the old familiar Jock Jams were playing on the arena’s speakers. One of the folks in the room asked whether they have to pay to use those recordings. Yes, they do: it’s a public performance, subject to the restrictions found in the Copyright Act. The same applies to other public venues, such as restaurants and bars. Naturally, the restaurant owners aren’t out there asking the Beatles for their OK to play “Hey Jude” during dinner service. Instead, the rights are administered by…
Trademark Dispute: Mormon Church v. Dating Site
June 10, 2014
Who owns the right to use the words “Christian,” “Jewish,” or “Muslim” in connection with product or services? Nobody. But the right to use the word “Mormon” is in dispute. The intellectual property arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has attempted to prevent the owner of the dating website Mormon Match from using that brand name and registering it with the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).
Trademark Abandonment: Android v. Android
June 3, 2014
How long do trademarks last? They can last forever, in theory. Bass beer’s distinctive red triangle label was the UK’s first registered trademark back in 1876. It is UK trademark registration Number 00000000001. However, trademark rights disappear if they’re not in continuous use. Use it or lose it. Loss of rights in a trademark is referred to as “abandonment.” I’ve written about trademark abandonment before, but a recent high-profile case involving Google’s Android mark has brought the issue to the public’s attention yet again.
