(800) 594-4480
Menu   

Keep it Legal Blog

A Long Time Ago, in a Parody Far Far Away…


If you’re a fan of the original Star Wars movies, then you’ll love Star Wars: Uncut, a viral video created by hundreds of fans around the world. Each fan claimed 15 seconds from the original Star Wars (Episode IV: A New Hope) and re-filmed it using whoever and whatever they liked – animation, live action, their pets, Star Wars Legos, you name it. The entire film was put together and can be watched online. The Star Wars movies are copyrighted, subject to trademark protection, and probably covered by alien forms of intellectual property law known only by George Lucas and…

Read More

And the Award for Best Trademark Goes To…


While the Oscars aren’t technically a legal holiday, the spirit of the season does seem to fit in with my series on Holiday Trademarks. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences owns several Oscar-related trademarks, including: A design trademark for the image of the little gold man himself. OSCAR. OSCARS. ACADEMY AWARDS. OSCAR NIGHT. A.M.P.A.S. SUNDAY AT THE OSCARS. What about the names of the movies themselves? As if you didn’t already have it memorized, the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, 8th Edition, Section 1202.08 (stay with me here) states, in part: “The title, or a portion of a…

Read More

LINSANITY™


By now, everyone and their tiger mom has heard of Jeremy Lin, the Harvard-educated basketball sensation. My understanding is that the new version of the DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) will include Linsanity as a medically-treatable condition. Before we all run out and get vaccinated, let’s consider the trademark issues. I promise to do my very best to avoid all of the various “Lin” puns.

Read More

Everything is a Remix


The fourth and final part of Kirby Ferguson’s outstanding video series Everything is a Remix was posted yesterday. Click here to watch the whole Everything is a Remix series. Click here for Part 4 of Everything is a Remix, which focuses on the history of copyright and patents and some current issues in these areas of law. Trust me – these videos are fascinating and are certainly much more entertaining than my descriptions make them out to be.

Read More

Want to receive all the latest updates? Contact me today

Click Here

Receive updates from the Keep it Legal blog

I’m glad you enjoy the blog, and I’d love to keep you updated with all the latest legal tips and business law strategy news.

Enter your name and email below, and we’ll be in touch!