Before I launch into this post, I must provide the disclaimer that I am not a Tweeter and I do not regularly use Twitter. That being said, here we go. If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, then Twitter is quickly becoming sycophancy central. “Fake” Twitter accounts abound throughout the Twitter-verse and, frankly, I find… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: ESPN
Sed Quid in Infernos Dicet?
Posted in AlphaWatchIt has been some time since we have visited AlphaWatch, and today we turn our attention to an ad I spied on ESPN’s website this week: This takes me back to law school and a Latin phrase common in legal parlance, res ipsa loquitur, which is commonly translated, "the thing speaks for itself." The legal principle… Continue Reading
Unintended Consequences
Posted in BrandingAs I was perusing ESPN.com, I came across an interesting installment on their Page 2 Power Rankings. For the uninitiated, Page 2 Power Rankings is a light-hearted ranking of the top sports-related stories grabbing headlines over the previous week (or two, or three, I’m not sure of the frequency). As a Minnesotan and an NFL fan, my… Continue Reading
Often Imitated, Never Duplicated: The Quizzical Case of Celebrity Look Alikes
Posted in AdvertisingWhile I was perusing ESPN.com shortly after the Masters, I came across an interesting article about a Tiger Woods lookalike. The article was a bit dated, and was probably recycled because of Tiger’s upcoming Master’s appearance, but it sparked interest nonetheless. My first question was, “How big of a market exists for the celebrity lookalike biz?” While… Continue Reading
Sportscaster Speech Slaughter And The Need For Distinction
Posted in BrandingNow that my blood pressure has returned to near normal levels after my beloved Blue Devils barely eked out the NCAA basketball title (and I do mean barely), now feels like a good time to reflect on the daily bludgeoning the English language receives from sports telecasts. Seriously, is there any class of professionals doing… Continue Reading
Tiger’s Personal Brand of Apology?
Posted in Branding, MarketingPutting aside the questions of whether Tiger Woods needed to or should have made a public apology, the timing of it, and even the content of it, now that Brand Tiger made the decision to do so and did so last Friday, I’m interested more with how Tiger conveyed it and the likely impact it will have on his personal… Continue Reading
Who Owns WHO DAT?
Posted in TrademarksIn light of the recent Super Bowl victory by the New Orleans Saints, I think a brief discussion of the recent squabble over ownership of the phrase “who dat” is in order. In case you have not been following the story, the phrase “who dat” is commonly used by football fans and, in particular, New Orleans… Continue Reading
Shaq is Attacking to Protect His Likeness
Posted in TrademarksYou may have heard the phrase “Shaq Attaq” referring to the famous NBA player and gold medal winner Shaquille O’Neal’s basketball skills. While he played basketball in Arizona for the Phoenix Suns, the Arizonians nicknamed him “The Big Cactus” and “The Big Shaqtus” in reference to the combination of Mr. O’Neal and an Arizona cactus…. Continue Reading
A Plural New Year’s Resolution For ESPN
Posted in Advertising, Marketing, TelevisionApparently I’m rapidly fading from ESPN’s target demographic. This became painfully clear to me over the holiday season, with ESPN’s Bowl Week promotion, featuring Atlantic’s hip-hop artist B.O.B. performing "I Am The Champion": It’s not that ESPN is promoting an up and coming rapper, I understand that marketing decision. It’s the title and lyrics of the selection –… Continue Reading
The Freezman Cometh?
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Marketing, Non-Traditional Trademarks, TrademarksWorries about having a white Christmas in Minneapolis and elsewhere have been quiet this year. Thus far, we have spent far more than our typical time shoveling some especially heavy wet snow this holiday season, but don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I do have snow on my mind, however, because each time I think… Continue Reading
Supreme Court Asked to Review Washington Redskins Trademark Case
Posted in Advertising, Branding, First Amendment, Law Suits, Marketing, Trademarks, TTABBack in May, I wrote a piece entitled "Re-Branding Madness in Washington" Overlooks Obvious: The Washington Redskins," discussing the trademark cancellation action that I filed on behalf of seven prominent Native American leaders back in September 1992 (Harjo et al v. Pro-Football, Inc.), and calling for the football team to "hire a branding guru to engage… Continue Reading
Subscribe
Add this blog to your feeds or enter your email in the box below and hit GO to subscribe by email.
Duets Blog Authors
Steve Baird
Just so you know, I'm all about brands and the law, both professionally and personally. I regularly annoy family and friends in retail stores by focusing on product labels—not to buy the product, but to read the fine print and ask, "Who owns these brands" and "Did they really register those marks?" More...
Dan Kelly
You can call me a “non-traditional” attorney, which is a polite way of saying that I did not attend law school straight out of college. I spent five of my first six years after college as a junior high school teacher. The other year I worked as an engineer for a large corporation. More...
Sharon Armstrong
Voted most likely to become an actress while in pre-school, I don’t think I surprised anyone by becoming a lawyer, the steadiest professional gig open to those with a flair for the dramatic. More...
Brent Lorentz
Although I wish I could say my path to the law was the result of a lifelong dream or calling, it was more the result mere curiosity and an affinity for leather-bound books. More...
Tiffany Blofield
Although my initial career path was to be one of the Supremes (not the musically talented ones with platform shoes and sequins, but rather, the nine wearing sensible shoes and pressed black robes in DC), I will likely stay in Minnesota as I have never lived anywhere else. More...
Brad Walz
My law career started on the ice…as a defensive hockey player (we’re not talking professionally…and if I were, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into law). More...
Susan Perera
Born into the world with an aptitude for science and an affinity for art I found my career path quickly chosen for me. More...
Joy S. Newborg
When I took a personality/career test in high school to determine which path in life I should follow, I was told I should either be in broadcast journalism or law. So after I went to undergraduate school for broadcast journalism and film/television, I went on to obtain my law degree from the University of Minnesota. More...
Laura Gutierrez
An attorney I am not. Though told to become one, I don't possess those qualities needed to be an effective one (I lack confrontation skills, and although I can write a great argumentative essay, I can’t argue outside a sheet of paper). More...