Alt Legal IP News – Issue #102
Hannah Samendinger | August 21, 2018
How You Say It
– A patent application filed by Apple suggests plans to have Siri respond differently based on the individuals’ voices.
– In-n-Out is the latest company to opt for a friendly and fun cease and desist in response to the use of their branding elements.
– Can an accusation of patent infringement constitute defamation?
Shut It Down
– Patent filers have had a rough couple of days with the core of many USPTO online systems going down inexplicably, which has a significant cost for attorneys and their clients. The USPTO is hoping everything will be back to normal sometime today.
– A Rick and Morty-themed DC bar has been shut down by Turner Broadcasting. Adult Swim issued a statement about protecting the brand and noted, “Also, it’s illegal, which we’re pretty sure still counts for something.”
– An Anish Kapoor exhibit had to be briefly shut down after a museum-goer fell into the piece. Kapoor’s use of a particular pigment, which he has exclusive rights to, is to blame.
Queens, Kings, and Prime Ministers
– Michael Jackson’s estate is not happy about Disney’s use of roughly 30 of Jackson’s songs without the estate’s permission. Disney argues it was fair use.
– The Queen of Soul died last week. One of her most famous songs, “Respect,” generated a surprisingly small amount of royalty payments for the singer.
– Lobbyist data revealed that registered copyright meetings with the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office are split 80% for rights holders groups and 20% for user groups.
Odds and Ends
– What can the Harry Potter series teach us about copyright law?
– The expiration of a cybersex patent marks a major milestone for the $15 billion dollar adult toy industry.
– Walmart may be entering the world of virtual reality shopping.
– ROMs, which allow older games to be copied and played on more modern devices, create an interesting tension between copyright protection and the preservation of history.
– Check out this episode of Amicus that explores the landmark legal battle about plastic dolls.