I ♡ Trademarks NewsletterIssue #350
Bri Van Til | August 22, 2023
Surfing New Waves
CBS Studios’ recently granted trademark for STAR TREK CONTINUUM suggests that Star Trek may be entering the new frontier: web3.
Not surprisingly, it’s predicted that AI and the blockchain will soon make a great partnership.
“Web3? I didn’t even know there was a web2!” You’re not alone. Join us for this webinar next month to learn the basics of web3, recent web3-related litigation, and how web3 might affect you and your clients.
Fact Check
In a thought-provoking (albeit legally misguided) video, someone claimed that indigenous Australians had trademarked all the country’s native flora and fauna, rendering all coats of arms featuring the plants and animals to be infringing. If only that were how trademarks worked…
So, yeah, Disney isn’t retiring Mickey Mouse.
Some conspiracy theorists claimed that Kobe Bryant’s death may’ve been related to a trademark infringement case. Here’s USA Today’s fact check of that claim.
Rebrand
The wonderfully named 501CTEES—a company selling promotional products for nonprofit organizations—is going to have to rebrand after a C&D from Levi Strauss.
Twitter’s rebrand to X makes great fodder for website content about trademarks, branding, and rebranding.
Siren’s Brew Coffee lost a trademark battle with Starbucks. The owners have vowed to fight, but that sounds like a lotte money and time, so is a rebrand in order?
Professional Concerns
Edible Arrangements—which, sadly, is not a dispensary—is looking for IP counsel.
Thinking you can’t Tom Ford to stay at your current job any longer? Consider being the licensing director for this Estée Lauder brand.
Seagate‘s job. Apply to gate’s job. Get gate’s job. Be gate’s assistant IP counsel.
There appears to be a Gap in this company’s IP and marketing counsel team. Maybe you should fill it.
If you’re feeling locked out of a great job and like you have Nokia to get into one, consider this position as licensing director.
Oatly has an opening for legal counsel. (Oat) milk it for all it’s worth.
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
Nintendo has applied for dozens of patents for mechanics in the newest Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom.
Looking to acquire another firm? Thinking of selling or merging yours? Read here about how to buy and sell firms.
Despite having previously lost a battle with Kylie Minogue, Kylie Jenner has applied for another trademark for KYLIE.
As the IP world struggles with what to do about rights for AI-produced works, can we look to a legal precedent over a hundred years old for guidance?
The USPTO is going to start sending trademark and patent applicants a welcome letter with links to free resources.
India’s Delhi High Court has ruled that Google must remove infringing ads.
Check out this West Virginia University branding and licensing fair; what a great way to encourage people to purchase officially licensed products.