FRANCHISE LAW WITH ZING
The Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 was included in the bipartisan 2020 coronavirus stimulus bill that passed on December 22, 2020, and was signed into law yesterday. The TM Act of 2020 will bring three important changes to trademark law (the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051 et seq.) of significance to brand owners. First, […]
Yet another dispute over copyright rights in sports branding has hit the news. Similar to the fight over the Baltimore Ravens logo many years ago, the Phillies are embroiled in a dispute with the designers of the “Phillie Phanatic” mascot over who owns the copyright rights. These battles provide a good backdrop for understanding copyright […]
We are pleased to announce that our partner Ben Reed will be co-presenting the Annual Developments session at the 43rd Annual Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting! As those who have attended the Forum’s Annual Meeting know (and for those who have not), the Annual Developments session today is the Forum’s signature event, providing a “thoughtful, […]
by Valerie Brennan On March 31, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a notice that most trademark filing deadlines may be extended by 30 days. Specifically, any deadline that was due on or between March 27, 2020 and April 30, 2020 can be extended 30 days from the initial date due. […]
by Valerie Brennan COVID-19 has caused many businesses to forcibly shutter in the U.S., temporarily, due either to state orders or necessary restrictions to protect employees and patrons. To maintain federal trademark registrations, however, the owner must make periodic maintenance filings declaring that a registered mark remains in use in connection with the goods and/or […]
by Valerie Brennan Store design / layout protection is a hot topic in trademark and copyright circles at the moment. Trade dress protection can be added to your arsenal of tools for preventing copycats from profiting off your creativity. It’s far from easy and requires a clear strategy and well-documented approach, but can be worth […]
by Valerie Brennan Trademark symbols or notices – TM, SM and ® – serve important purposes but it’s not always clear why and how companies should use them. Here’s a concise guide: Which? Use TM for unregistered product marks, SM for unregistered service marks (but TM is ok too), and ® for federally registered marks […]
By: Valerie Brennan The start of the year is an excellent time to take stock of your trademark portfolio through an (internal or external) audit – a quick check that your brands as protected match your use. What is a trademark audit? A trademark audit is a review of a brand portfolio, including both registered […]
We are thrilled to announce that Valerie Brennan has joined the [nap_names id=”FIRM-NAME-3″] team as our newest (and our eleventh!) partner. Valerie is a top-notch intellectual property attorney with 25+ years of large firm experience. She joins our vibrant Trademark practice – and transforms it into our Trademarks & Copyrights practice – as we add […]
Co-Owner Lee Plave was awarded by the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising’s with the Lewis G. Rudnick Award. The Lewis G. Rudnick Award is known as the highest and most prestigious award a franchise attorney can receive, recognizing his experience, professionalism, and leadership in franchising. This award is in memory of Lew Rudnick, who was […]
