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Alt Legal Blog

Your source for news, updates and guidance on all things trademarks and intellectual property.

Alt Legal IP News – Issue # 180

Bri Van Til | March 17, 2020
2 min read

Pandemic

– Alt Legal Connect has been rescheduled for October 25-27th. Because we had so much demand for tickets last time, we’ve slightly increased our capacity. There are 25 early-bird tickets available, so get one today!

– Since officials are requesting no gatherings of more than 10 people, Sonia Lakhany’s workshop will now be virtual. She’s also hosting an online chat with the USPTO this Friday.

– Tomorrow, Hire an Esquire is hosting a free webinar about working remotely in the legal industry; on Thursday, Law.com is offering a free webinar about what to tell clients; and Akin Gump has put together this handy checklist for protecting business interests while employees work remotely.

– Librarians are arguing that the pandemic crisis should justify fair use of copyrighted materials.

– The USPTO has closed its facilities to the public, EUIPO and EPO have extended deadlines for those dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, and the Supreme Court has postponed oral arguments.

Abandonment Issues

– The USPTO is tightening its standards for reviving abandoned applications.

– University of Houston Law Center professor Dave Fagundes argues that abandoning copyright interests is too difficult.

– Is a mark still abandoned if it’s being used by a wholly-owned subsidiary?

Women and IP

– What difficulties do women entrepreneurs face when trying to secure funding for their startups?

– Sony Pictures Television in Australia is opposing a trademark application filed by women’s startup group Dolphin Tank.

– Despite progress in recent years, there is still a serious dearth of women inventors filing patent applications.

– INTA has launched “The Women’s LeadershIP Initiative,” a program designed “to foster the development of strong leadership skills for women in the IP field and empower them to advance their careers to the next level.”

Professional Concerns

– Goldman Sachs, Great ClipsOracle, Disney, and Planned Parenthood are looking for counsel.

– Ropes & Gray and Starbucks want legal assistants, TikTok wants an IP specialist, and Nelson Mullins wants an invoicing and docketing assistant.

– Apple is looking for both a trademark paralegal and trademark counsel, and Universal Music Group is looking for a bilingual attorney.

– The USPTO plans to hire hundreds of patent examiners.

– Have an open role on your team? Send a link to your job listing to [email protected], and we’ll publish it in our next newsletter.

Odds and Ends

– Who would have thought that there was a long story behind the creation and adoption of the copyright symbol?

– Tesla Motors branded alcohol is being offered for sale in China. Don’t drink and drive, people!

– Both parties in both chambers of Congress are considering the Trademark Modernization Act.

– Update: the copyright suit against the Cubs for a retweet of allegedly infringing materials is moving forward.

– Update: OSU is continuing its attempt to trademark THE.

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