IPNews® – The question over whether tattoos can be copyrighted is the heart of a lawsuit against Take-Two Software, the creators of the videogame NBA 2K16.
Solid Oak Sketches claims copyright ownership over tattoos on NBA players, and argues that the use of those tattoos in the video game is a copyright infringement. Solid Oak Sketches seeks $800,000 in damages. To continue reading, click: LeBron and Kobe Tattoos Lead to Copyright Lawsuit over NBA 2K16 Videogame
IPNews® – The San Diego Chargers have applied for the Los Angeles Charges trademark. The team remains the San Diego Chargers for now, but the Rams and Chargers are currently in negotiations that would move the Chargers to Los Angeles.
While at first the Chargers’ move to Los Angeles appeared inevitable, recent reports suggest that the teams have reached an impasse which would mean that the Chargers will stay in San Diego after all. To continue reading, click: Chargers File for Los Angeles Chargers Trademark
IPNews® – Yosemite National Park is changing the names of its iconic attractions due to a trademark dispute with its concessionaire company Delaware North. When the national park turned the contract over to Aramark, Delaware North filed a lawsuit arguing that it owns the trademarks to the park’s names such as the Ahwahnee Hotel.
If Yosemite wants to keep the names, Delaware North argues that Aramark should have to purchase them just like it did. To continue reading, click: Iconic Yosemite Attractions to Change Names in Trademark Dispute
IPNews® – A federal judge in California ruled against a monkey in the case filed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
The case centered on ownership rights over photos taken by a monkey with a nature photographer’s camera. PETA argued the monkey should get proceeds from the sales of a book containing those photos, but the judge ruled that copyright law does not extend to animals. To continue reading, click: Monkey Loses Copyright Case Over Selfie
IPNews® – Presidential candidate Jeb Bush abandoned his trademark application for his “Jeb!” campaign logo. The now abandoned application applied for use of the logo on a variety of merchandise.
Given Bush’s low polling, this may be yet another change by Bush to try to re-invent his campaign. To continue reading, click: Jeb Bush Abandons Trademark Application for “Jeb!”
IPNews® – The trademark battle over the rock band name “The Slants” may open the floodgates of “disparaging” trademarks being federally registered. An appeals court has held that not granting such trademarks federal trademark protection is a first amendment violation.
This ruling is likely to impact the Washington Redskins pending litigation in which the Redskins trademark was canceled as being disparaging to native Americans. To continue reading, click: The Slants win, Ban on Disparaging Trademarks and Washington Redskins Ruling Now in Doubt
IPNews® – Grumpy Cat Ltd. has filed a lawsuit against coffee company Grenade Beverage. Grenade Beverage holds a license to use the Grumpy Cat branding to sell an iced beverage, but there’s a debate over whether its launching of a coffee bean product violates the agreement.
Grumpy Cat brought forth claims of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, cybersquatting, and breach of contract. To continue reading, click: Grumpy Cat Files Trademark Lawsuit Against Coffee Company
IPNews® – A Sequenom patent for a prenatal DNA test was once again ruled invalid, this time by the U.S. Court of Appeals.
The DNA blood test which detects fetal chromosomal abnormalities can be performed as early as 10 weeks into a pregnancy and the test is considered superior to other tests because it is completely noninvasive. The court held that the patent deals with naturally occurring processes, which are not patentable. To continue reading, click: Sequenom Patent on Prenatal DNA Test Remains Invalid
IPNews® – Virtual Gaming Technology recently filed a patent infringement lawsuit against DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fox Sports.
The patented technology allows players to interact in the virtual game while the sporting event is occurring live. This is just one of the latest and many lawsuits against DraftKings and FanDuel. To continue reading, click: More Trouble for DraftKings and FanDuel in the Form of a Patent Lawsuit
IPNews® – Texas A&M recently filed a lawsuit against the Indianapolis Colts over the use of the phrase the “12th Man.”
Texas A&M has held the trademark for the phrase since 1990. The lawsuit was brought after the Colts did not reply to Texas A&M’s requests that the Colts cease use of the trademark. To continue reading, click: Texas A&M Sues Indianapolis Colts Over “12th Man” Trademark