Intellectual Property

Read Communications & Media Law updates, alerts, news, and legal analysis from leading lawyers and law firms:

News & Analysis as of May 22, 2013

Franchising Newsletter – April 2013

by Kathy Dalton, Murray Deakin, Sam Jackson, J. Michael Keyes, Michaela Moloney, Sylvia Ng, Chris Nikou, Anna Trist | K&L Gates LLP on 5/2/2013

Overview - There have been several franchising developments since our last update in February. This edition discusses: - minimising the risks when marketing through social media - comments from...more

FTC Green Marketing Guides

by Robert Freedman - Partner at Tharpe & Howell,... on 12/6/2012

The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced the release of revised “Green Guides” on October 1, 2012. The Green Guides are intended to help marketers avoid making misleading environmental claims. The Green Guides are...more

Canon And Lexmark Litigation Lead To Uncertainty In Print Toner/Cartridge Industry

by Robert Freedman - Partner at Tharpe & Howell,... on 11/14/2012

The industry for remanufactured printer/toner cartridges has flourished for years as users purchase replacements from third party suppliers who fill a need and offer print supplies at prices significantly lower than those...more

Advertising News & Analysis - June 14, 2012

by Venable LLP on 6/18/2012

In this issue: - FTC Amends Franchise Rule Disclosure Thresholds - Ben Stein / Kyocera Suit Latest Front in Endorsement Contract Wars - ICANN Unveils List of gTLD Applications - Upcoming Events An...more

Franchise Review - May 2012: Franchising in Quebec

by Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP on 5/18/2012

When venturing into Quebec it’s important to be familiar with the Québec Charter of French Language (the Charter), which establishes French as the official language of Quebec and governs use of the French language in a broad...more

Cold Stone Creamery and Its Franchisees Take Joint Action Against Negative Publicity: A Behind-the-Scenes Look

by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. on 11/3/2011

Reprinted and/or posted with the permission of the American Bar Association, Fall 2011, Vol. 14, No. 4 A strong brand can be a franchise system’s most valuable asset. A strong brand may allow franchisors to maintain...more

Trademarks: 9th Circuit Identifies A New Set Of Four Factors For Adwords/Keyword-Advertising Disputes

by Douglas Lytle on 3/15/2011

On March 8, 2011, the 9th Circuit issued its opinion in Network Automation v. Advanced Sys. Concepts, --- F.3d ---, 2011 WL 815806 (9thC ir. 2011), addressing whether Network’s keyword advertising through Bing and Google...more

Case Study - Trade Dress Infringment

by Robert Vantress on 7/31/2009

Companies can protect their overall style, products or packaging or "look and feel" from imitators under trade-dress, a less known but possibly a more powerful way to protect brand equity. If implemented and enforced...more