–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
It is springtime in Minnesota – at last! Cue the smell of fresh cut grass, the clink of ice cubes in a glass, and the taste of wonderful, fresh fruit. Yep, it’s time to start thinking about fruit salad. I like to start with cantaloupe, and add blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and kiwi,
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
I recently returned from a trip to Thailand. In addition to enjoying the opportunity to experience the country’s natural beauty, to learn more about its history, and to enjoy lots of wonderful Thai food, I was charmed by the people. I was also reminded how pervasive American culture seems to be around
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
One of my favorite shows on TV right now is Downton Abbey. No mere period drama, this Masterpiece Theatre presentation has become something of a sleeper sensation, partly for its swooning melodrama and partly for its (some would say romanticized) illustration of the English class system, following the upstairs-downstairs lives of
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
Today ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, better known as the company that basically runs the Internet, begins accepting applications for generic top level domains. Most users know top level domains such as .com, .org, .edu…and even .xxx. Now, under this new program, organizations can apply to use
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
You know how when you say a word over and over again, or stare at it long enough, it stops making ordinary sense and starts becoming something else? To some extent, that’s how I’m beginning to feel about “occupy.”
Regardless of what you may think about the movement – that it is
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
The Lanham Act prevents applicants from registering any of a number of words and devices as marks, including immoral or scandalous matter and flags or coats of arms. In terms of the latter exclusion, such a prohibition makes sense; without it, for example, any merchant could use an American flag to hawk
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
Every so often I come across a turn of phrase that just makes me smile. The online news magazine Slate did so with its slide show called “There Once Was a Man Named Leotard,” which is devoted to how certain people – generally well-known inventors – have names that have
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
Okay, I’ll admit it—I’m not a huge fan of cupcakes. Cake is one of those desserts that is often served (and consumed) for obligatory purposes; it is served at weddings and birthdays and other occasions to signify a celebration. The problem, in my humble opinion, is that you’re supposed to eat it.
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
One thing I love about trademark law is how extraordinarily easy it is to find useful examples of basic trademark lessons in real life – even in a television show that has been called “mind-numbing” and “absolutely ridiculous” and has spawned a Facebook page called “Jersey Shore