Alt Legal IP News – Issue # 160
Bri Van Til | October 15, 2019
It’s All Fun and Games
– For those wanting to have fun with VR tech but concerned about tripping over furniture, Microsoft has patented a virtual reality mat.
– They beet me to the punchline here, but this article looks at punny trademarks (my favorite kind of fun!).
– Which company has the riot to use this trademark?
Droning on and on
– Ever forget where you parked? Ford just patented a drone that could help you—or emergency crews—find your car.
– If walking downstairs to get your package is too much, this Walmart patent for a drone to deliver to windows in high-rise buildings might be just the thing for you.
– Australian Girl Geek Academy has acquired a trademark for “She Flies” to help get girls involved with technology, including drones.
Call Me
– Xiaomi has patented four different smartphone designs that have all the cameras.
– Although Princeps last month dismissed its patent infringement suit against Google, Google is asking a court to declare that its Android keyboard app did not infringe Princeps’s patent.
– Nokia has filed applications for over 2,000 patents related to 5G technology.
Odds and Ends
– A recent Federal Court decision emphasizes the significance of good titles for patents.
– Prince’s estate has denounced President Trump’s campaign for using the artist’s music at a campaign rally, particularly after the campaign claimed a year ago that it would stop using Prince’s music. Queen has also complained about the Trump campaign’s use of their song. This is all, of course, just a week after Nickelback’s complaint against Trump‘s use of their song and video on Twitter.
– Get out your party hat to celebrate: it’s Intellectual Property Month!