Last week, we saw the latest installment in the “trademark bullying” saga. But this time was different. Instead of lawyers fighting amongst themselves, DuetsBlog brought out the big gun: Seth Godin. You can read the entire piece here. I like Seth Godin, and so do lots of other people (hence, the
Paging Dr. Google, Juris Doctor — JD, That is?
North Memorial is pressing up its commitment to using the Google mark on outdoor billboards:
I have the same questions from last month for its digital campaign in the Minneapolis skyway.
And one more: Will this increased visibility result in an emergency, calling for a Juris Doctor?
Can a YouTube Video Invalidate a Patent? It’s Certainly Possible
One of the most common defenses to patent infringement is that the asserted patent is invalid. The reasons for invalidity regularly range from lack of utility, to incorrect inventorship, and even to fraud (as I’ve recently written about). Often, the defendant asserts that the patent is invalid for lack of novelty or non-obviousness–pointing
Uncertain Case of Google Trademark Fair Use
Aren’t digital advertising billboards amazing? My iPhone captured this rolling series of images just yesterday, for a health care organization using the Google trademark in the Minneapolis skyway:
My questions, permission, co-branding, no permission, but classic or nominative fair use?
Is Google flattered? Free advertising? Do they care? Should they care?
Registration of a Very Personal Brand Name
How much do I believe in federal registration of trademarks and brand names? Well, this much:
I’ve always been a big fan of practicing what you preach. Actually walking the talk. Not just talk.
That mindset helps explain why we stuck with the suggestive name of this blog, even after the experts recommended
We can Keep Googling the GOOGLE Mark: Supreme Court Denies Cert
— Jessica Gutierrez Alm, Attorney
Many of us have been eagerly waiting to see whether the Supreme Court would consider Google’s potential genericness.
As Martha explained, the case began in 2012, after petitioners Chris Gillespie and David Elliot attempted to register hundreds of web domains that included the word “Google” together with a variety
Social Media and Jurors
Social media impacts every facet of life and is often discussed in DuetsBlog posts. Courts are now having to address social media issues in connection with jurors. A federal judge in California is considering banning the use of social media altogether in a copyright case before him brought by Oracle America, Inc. against Google, Inc.
Apple and The World’s Most Public Privacy Policy
-Wes Anderson, Attorney
It bears mentioning when one of the world’s most famous brands releases one of the world’s most prominent and readable privacy policies. That’s just what Apple did this week, and the message to other brands is clear – privacy policies can be a massive marketing opportunity, not just an obscure legal nuisance.
Internet Loses it Over Google’s New Logo
— Jessica Gutierrez Alm, Attorney
Google changed its logo this week, and the Internet is not happy about it. In the new design, the name appears in thicker, cleaner letters. Specifically, the new design eliminates serifs—the little tails at the bottom of each letter in many fonts, like Times New Roman.
Personal Branding with the Right to be Forgotten
— Jessica Gutierrez Alm, Attorney
Everyone has a brand. Through every interaction and impression we leave in the minds of others, each of us builds on our own personal brand. In the Internet age, and particularly with the advent of social media, our personal brands are more definable than ever. Googling anyone but the most