Crowdfunded ‘Star Trek’ fan film violates Klingon language copyright, says lawsuit by major studios

Boldly going where no lawsuit has gone before, two movie studios are contending that a crowdfunded Star Trek fan film has violated copyright law by—among many other things—using the Klingon language. But the original complaint by Paramount Pictures Corp. and CBS Studios Inc. wasn’t detailed enough, Axanar Productions Inc. contended…

Mar 14, 2016 11:45 AM CDT

Holy hot rod! Supreme Court won’t review ruling giving Batmobile copyright protection

The U.S. Supreme Court this week let stand a federal appeals ruling that found the Batman’s Batmobile is entitled to copyright protection. The Supreme Court denied cert on Monday, report the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press and Bloomberg BNA’s Intellectual Property Blog. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court…

Mar 9, 2016 9:44 AM CST

Many lawyer departures prior to Dickstein’s demise were planned, former chairman says

Contrary to what one might believe from reading media reports, a steady stream of departures from Dickstein Shapiro in recent months was not lawyers leaving a sinking ship but part of a planned strategy, the former chairman of the now-defunct firm says. “Since July, with very few exceptions, all of…

Feb 22, 2016 4:45 PM CST

Federal judge tells Skechers to stop selling shoes ‘confusingly similar’ to Adidas

Saying that he himself couldn’t see a difference between the “Stan Smith” white tennis shoe with a green heel patch manufactured by Adidas and a Skechers look-alike from three feet away, a federal judge in Portland, Oregon, has ordered Skechers to stop selling that shoe and two other styles “confusingly…

Feb 19, 2016 4:05 PM CST

Polsinelli to acquire ‘vast majority’ of lawyers and staffers from Novak Druce

Polsinelli has approved the acquisition of a substantial number of lawyers from the intellectual property boutique Novak Druce Connolly Bove & Quigg. Those joining Polsinelli include top management at Novak Druce, which currently has about 80 lawyers, the Am Law Daily (sub. req.) reports. The exact number making the move…

Feb 19, 2016 9:30 AM CST

Casemaker agrees state law isn’t copyrightable, won’t defend Fastcase suit

Saying that he is “mystified” by a lawsuit filed against Casemaker by a competitor after a reported takedown demand by Casemaker, the legal publisher’s CEO said the company will not defend the declaratory judgment action. The federal suit filed in Atlanta by Fastcase Inc. seeks “a declaration that state law…

Feb 18, 2016 2:00 PM CST

Burberry sues Penney over plaid products, faces unrelated customer suit on outlet store price tags

It has been a busy week for Burberry in the American legal system. On Tuesday, the British luxury goods seller known for its trench coats and cashmere scarves sued J.C. Penney Co. in federal court in Manhattan over claimed misappropriation of Burberry’s iconic plaid “check” pattern. Although the pattern has…

Feb 12, 2016 2:45 PM CST

Lawyer sues Avvo, says unauthorized use of professional info violates right of publicity

Updated: A Chicago attorney has sued Avvo, contending that the company’s online lawyer directory is violating a state statute by using professional information on the site without permission. Plaintiff Moria Bernstein alleges in her lawsuit (PDF) that Avvo is violating an Illinois right of publicity law that bars use of…

Feb 8, 2016 5:30 PM CST

Fastcase sues Casemaker for takedown demand, says Georgia administrative rules can’t be copyrighted

In the latest battle over attempts to assign and enforce publishing rights over state law, two online legal research services are girding up for a federal court fight. Responding to a December takedown demand from Lawriter LLC, which does business as Casemaker, the competing Fastcase Inc. filed suit in federal…

Feb 8, 2016 1:35 PM CST

Video game violates copyright by using tattoos of NBA stars, suit alleges

A video game maker is facing a lawsuit that contends its use of tattoos of five basketball stars—including LeBron James and Kobe Bryant—is a copyright violation. The suit was filed Monday in Manhattan federal court by Solid Oak Sketches, which acquired licenses to the eight tattoos at issue from three…

Feb 3, 2016 10:32 AM CST

Can patent laws halt the reselling of used ink cartridges? Federal Circuit to consider

Feb 1, 2016 2:50 AM CST

Woman sues Associated Press for selling her photo in a hijab as a stock photo

A Queens, New York, woman has sued the Associated Press and AP photographer Mark Lennihan for taking and selling a photo of her, the Washington Post’s Volokh Conspiracy reported Monday. Fifi Youssef wears a hijab, the head covering for women from parts of the Muslim world. Lennihan took her photo…

Jan 26, 2016 4:25 PM CST

George Clooney lookalike in video ad sparks legal battle between coffee competitors

A disclaimer on an Israeli Espresso Club video ad featuring a George Clooney lookalike tells viewers he’s not the famous Hollywood actor. However, Nespresso, which uses the real George Clooney in its own advertising for coffee and related products, has sued over the spoof. A Haaretz story provides links to…

Jan 21, 2016 12:55 PM CST

Court rejects effort to trademark shape of KitKat candy bar

If the KitKat name wasn’t printed on the four connected “fingers” of a well-known candy bar, would customers know it was a KitKat without seeing the wrapper? The answer to that question in the United Kingdom is no, according to a Wednesday ruling by the High Court of Justice of…

Jan 21, 2016 11:45 AM CST

Judge refuses to toss graffiti artist’s suit claiming his mural was used on dress worn by Katy Perry

A federal judge in California has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by a graffiti artist who claims the Moschino apparel brand used his work on a dress worn by pop star Katy Perry at an art gala. U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson ruled for the graffiti artist known as Rime,…

Jan 19, 2016 6:15 AM CST