California’s Actor-Age Censorship Law (AB 1687), which would have required IMDb.com to remove age-related information from its web pages, was declared unconstitutional by a district court last month on free
Continue Reading District Court Delivers Opinion for the Ages Striking AB 1687 as Violation of IMDb’s First Amendment Rights
San Diego Smackdown, the Final Chapter?
The jury has spoken. After a saga worth of Homer, Comic-Con is a valid trademark.
The battle began when, the organizers of San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), the 50-year old grandaddy
Continue Reading San Diego Smackdown, the Final Chapter?
Federal Circuit Decision Leaves Lanham Act’s Provision Barring Registration of Immoral and Scandalous Marks “FUCT”
It is not often that a court of law can issue a landmark opinion laden with profanity and sexual innuendos. But last Friday,
Continue Reading Federal Circuit Decision Leaves Lanham Act’s Provision Barring Registration of Immoral and Scandalous Marks “FUCT”
San Diego Smackdown, Chapter 2: Gag Order Overturned on Appeal
I’ve blogged here and here about the pending trademark infringement case brought by SDCC, the registered owners
Continue Reading San Diego Smackdown, Chapter 2: Gag Order Overturned on Appeal
San Diego Smackdown: Comic Con Trademark Fight Goes First Amendment
The stakes just raised in an imminent trial over the validity of the San Diego Comic-Con trademark. What started out as a straightforward trademark dispute has now implicated First Amendment
Continue Reading San Diego Smackdown: Comic Con Trademark Fight Goes First Amendment
Supreme Court: The Slants Keep Their Name – “Disparagement” Clause Violates the First Amendment
Charlie Nelson Keever writes:
The Supreme Court ruled this morning that a federal law that prohibits the government from registering trademarks that “disparage” others violates the First Amendment.
Update: Band Names, Free Speech, and the USPTO
Following up my colleague Lori Kozak’s blog post from almost one year ago, the Asian-American rock band known as “The Slants” had their day in the highest court of
Continue Reading Update: Band Names, Free Speech, and the USPTO
IMDb Declares War on “Actor Age Censorship Law” and Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against Enforcement
Just four days after the Actor Age Censorship Law (AB 1687) took effect on New Year’s Day, the controversial anti-age discrimination statute was forced to bear arms as IMDb, the
Continue Reading IMDb Declares War on “Actor Age Censorship Law” and Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against Enforcement
USPTO Requests Supreme Court Review in Section 2(a) Disparagement Case
Lori Kozak writes:
As anticipated, the USPTO filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, seeking Supreme Court review
Continue Reading USPTO Requests Supreme Court Review in Section 2(a) Disparagement Case