The written works Winnie-the-Pooh and Bambi are now in the public domain. Click here for a list of this year’s releases.
Author Archives: hjsumner
Weaponizing Copyrights in Cancel Culture
Recently many have been turning to copyrights as a means of punishing or silencing their opponents. In one recent case, a police officer relied on Taylor Swift’s copyright to prevent a private citizen from posting cell phone footage of an unflattering interaction. The officer played Swift’s music on his own phone while being recorded andContinue reading “Weaponizing Copyrights in Cancel Culture”
Native American tribes permitted to add tribal insignias in the USPTO’s database for free
Official tribal insignias of federally or state-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes can now be included in the USPTO database for no cost. These marks will be considered when examining pending trademark applications. Click here for full article
10 Senators Urge Biden to Waive COVID-19 Patent Rights
10 democratic Senators are hoping Biden will provide a temporary patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccinations. This would allow countries to manufacture the vaccines locally but will it affect the safety and efficacy of these immunizations? CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE
Overview of the Trademark Modernization Act
The recent COVID-19 relief bill included a number of changes to trademark law. The Trademark Modernization Act has now been signed into law and allows third parties to: File Petitions for Expungement or Reexamination Submit evidence supporting a refusal to register a trademark Click here for full article and additional changes to the law
Creating a Solid Logo
A logo should be visually pleasing but it should also communicate more than just a brand name. Here are a few examples of some designs that go the extra mile… Click here for full article: https://alltimelists.com/13-logos-with-clever-hidden-messages/?view-all
Internet Archive Being Sued over COVID-19 “Emergency Library”
The Internet Archive (IA) is a nonprofit organization that has digitally preserved more than 1.4 million books and historical documents. The organization is best known for the Wayback Machine which comprises nearly 390 billion pages of internet archives. Following the recent pandemic, IA began another project called the Open Library in which it allowed usersContinue reading “Internet Archive Being Sued over COVID-19 “Emergency Library””
Contract Drafting: It’s All in the Details
In 1881, Dr. Joseph Lawrence invented Listerine and it remains the #1 best selling mouthwash. Later that year, Dr. Lawrence sold the secret formulation to a pharmacist named Jordan Lambert. The contract drafted in this exchange required Lambert to pay Dr. Lawrence a royalty based on volumetric sales for as long as Listerine was sold.Continue reading “Contract Drafting: It’s All in the Details”
Engineer Posts Open-source DIY “Ventilator-ish” Device Instructions
With the recent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases many are concerned that ventilator supplies may run low. One man has come up with a way to create a ventilator-like apparatus by modifying a standard CPAP machine. This device is not FDA approved and does not appear to have been tested by any medical professionals; however,Continue reading “Engineer Posts Open-source DIY “Ventilator-ish” Device Instructions”
China Applies for Patent to Treat Coronavirus
The Wuhan Institute of Virology has recently filed a patent application for the drug remdesivir to treat coronavirus. The patent was filed jointly with the Military Medicine Institute of the People’s Liberation Army Academy of Military Science. The Chinese believe that remdesivir and chloroquine (an anti-malarial drug) are effective at combating the virus. Chloroquine isContinue reading “China Applies for Patent to Treat Coronavirus”