The USPTO has reversed itself on defining what will be considered an acceptable email address for the trademark owner. In revised guidance issued on February 14, 2020 – one day before the February 15 implementation date of the new rule – it announced that trademark applicants and registrants may provide an “email address of their choice,” so long as it is not identical to the email address provided for the attorney who is listed in the application or registration.More
Headlines
World Trademark Review’s 2020 WTR 1000 Praises Firm and Lawyers
“Fross Zelnick is, to many observers, the leading trademark firm anywhere in the world,” according to the 2020 edition of World Trademark Review‘s WTR 1000. In addition to chart-topping rankings in both the Enforcement & Litigation as well as the Prosecution & Strategy categories, the following lawyers were recognized for their work: Lawrence Apolzon,More
Chambers Global Ranks Fross Zelnick Band 1
Chambers Global 2020 ranks Fross Zelnick in USA Band 1 for Intellectual Property: Trademark, Copyright & Trade Secrets.More
WIPR Leaders Includes Four Fross Zelnick Lawyers
David Donahue, James Weinberger, Richard Lehv and Roger Zissu were listed in World IP Review‘s WIPR Leaders. They were noted for their trademark and copyright-related work in areas including music, entertainment, pharmaceuticals, publishing, cosmetics, media and sports.More
Law360 Highlights Efforts of Barbara Solomon and Sean Harb
Law360 wrote about efforts of Barbara Solomon and Sean Harb to identify some of the entities who have adopted and are using packaging similar to our client Mondelez’s Sour Patch candy packaging in order to sell unregulated THC-infused products. By utilizing various forms of early third-party discovery,More
Articles And Published Works
DISCLAIMER: The articles below are provided as a public service to interested persons and do not create an attorney-client relationship, or revive a concluded attorney-client relationship, between the firm and reader. It is designed to highlight items of current interest and is not intended to be a full review of any subject matter, for which specific legal advice should always be obtained.
United Kingdom: Court of Appeal Clarifies When a Work is a Product of Joint Authorship
Kogan v. Martin et al., [2019] EWCA Civ 1645, Case No: A3/2018/0070.
In a recent decision addressing works of joint authorship, the U.K. Court of Appeal sets out factors to consider when undertaking the often complex analysis of whether a work is indeed a product of joint ownership.More
Netherlands: Facebook Held Liable for Authorizing Fake Bitcoin Ads
In October 2018, a third party posted fake advertisements on Facebook and Instagram linking Bitcoin and other crypto-concurrencies to John de Mol, a famous European media entrepreneur and TV producer. The ads contained De Mol’s name and portrait and were published without his consent.More
Japan: Jam Seller Rebuts Presumption of Similarity between Goods and Retail Sale of Goods
[No official case caption]
In a 2018 decision (H29 (Wa) 123, February 14, 2018), the Tokyo District Court denied a trademark infringement claim, finding that “retail services or wholesale services for processed food” are not similar to the goods “plum/blueberry jam.” The retail services were registered in connection with the mark JOYFARM in Katakana,More
Israel: Joins Hague System for Registering Industrial Designs
As of January 3, 2020, companies and designers from Israel can use the Hague System to protect their industrial designs in Israel and/or in any of the other member countries of the Hague System. And, foreign companies can also designate Israel on their international applications for industrial designs.More
France: New Trademark Law
On November 13, 2019, the French government published Order No. 2019-1169, followed by an implementing Decree on December 9, 2019. The purpose of this regulation was to incorporate into French law the EU Directive 2015/2436 and to simplify certain aspects of French trademark law and procedure.More
Events
Lawyers Attend Copyright Society Meeting in Arizona
Ashford Tucker, Jessica Vosgerchian, and Robin Warren attended the Midwinter Meeting of The Copyright Society of the USA in Phoenix, Arizona, where they gained insights on the latest developments and trends in copyright law.More
CLE: Reviewing 2019’s Big Decisions
As part of Fross Zelnick’s quarterly CLE series, the firm welcomed clients and friends of the firm as James Weinberger and Sean Harb presented a review of 2019’s big trademark and copyright decisions while also previewing a significant decision expected in 2020. More
David Donahue on Panel Discussing Romag Fasteners v. Fossil, Inc.
David Donahue was a panelist on American University Washington College of Law’s Supreme Court IP Series: Romag Fasteners v. Fossil, Inc., on January 14th. The panelists discussed the Supreme Court’s oral argument in the case, which took place earlier that day. The case involves the question whether under Section 35 of the U.S.More
Allison Strickland Ricketts Participates in CLE
In a Strafford CLE webinar focused on responding to USPTO Office Actions, Allison Strickland Ricketts shared strategies for overcoming PTO objections that arise during the trademark application process.More
Fross Zelnick Lawyers Help Plan Event for The Copyright Society of the USA
Robin Warren introduced the speakers at this year’s holiday luncheon for the New York chapter of The Copyright Society of the USA. Robin and Craig Mende were among those who planned the event, which addressed the topic of “Copyright Through the Lens of Artificial Intelligence.” Past President Roger Zissu,More