Only days away from Apple’s launch of its new iPad product, it has purchased the iPad trademark from Fujitsu. When Apple announced the product’s iPad mark, Fujitsu quickly laid claim to the trademark, which was filed in 2003, but has yet to register. In order to avert any interruption in…
Santa Ana, CA – The Southern-style chef Paula Deen has made “Hey Ya’ll!” her trademark phrase on the Food Network, while refusing to make anything remotely healthy that excludes her beloved butter, cheese, and fried foods. Maybe because of her love of butter, however, she has been sued for trademark…
Los Angeles, CA – William Saroyan, the Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize winning author and screenwriter, co-wrote “Come On-A My House” with his cousin Ross Bagdasarian, the creator of “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” Saroyan’s son and sole heir, Aram, alleges ownership of fifty percent of the copyright in…
Central District of California – Comic book author Jack Kirby’s heirs are suing Marvel and Disney (complaint available here) to terminate the copyrights in the popular Spider Man, Iron Man, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Thor, Nick Fury and Ant-Man comics, which Kirby authored or co-authored…
Los Angeles, CA – Drive-In Music Company sued the musical group “The Heavy,” CBS, NFL and others for copyright infringement. In 1969, Arlester Christian wrote the musical composition entitled “Let a Woman Be a Woman, (and Let a Man Be a Man),” which was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.…
Santa Ana, CA – GT Beverage Company sued The Coca Cola Company for a declaration of no trademark or design patent infringement. BT sells beverages in bottles that are shaped like sports balls including baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, and golf balls. BT has filed numerous trademark applications with the USPTO…
New York — Upper Deck will reportedly pay MLB a “substantial sum” in addition to $2.4 million to settle the trademark infringement and breach of contract lawsuit, according to Reuters. On January 31, 2010, Major League Baseball Properties sued the Upper Deck Company for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition,…
Los Angeles, CA – Celebrity gossip and news website TMZ is being sued by Marc Schaffel Productions for using copyrighted video footage of Michael Jackson’s ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, without authorization. (Here’s a copy of the copyright infringement complaint). Schaffel interviewed Rowe in 2003, portions of which were publicly aired in…
Los Angeles, CA – The District Court granted NBC’s motion for summary judgment of non-infringement in the “My Name Is Earl” copyright infringement lawsuit. (Order available here). Mark Gable filed a copyright infringement lawsuit (details blogged here) claiming that the “My Name Is Earl” television show was based on his…
Los Angeles, CA – Santa Barbara Winery sued Foster’s Wine Estates for trademark infringement, unfair competition and cancellation of trademark registration. Plaintiff alleges that it has used the “Santa Barbara Winery” trademark since 1962, but has not – for almost 50 years – sought to register its trademark with the…