Year / 2017
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![Form a Small Business]()
California Government Launches New Cannabis-Related Business Portals
In anticipation of the January 1, 2018 roll-out of legal recreational marijuana in California, the state government has launched a pair of web portals to act as “one-stop shops” for the creation…
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![Register a copyright]()
Deadline Approaching to Comply with New Website Copyright Regulation
Business owners operating websites, apps, or other online services that transmit, cache, store, or link to user generated content have until December 31, 2017 to comply with recent changes made by the U.S.…
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![Business Formation Lawyer]()
The “15-Day Rule”: How It Can Help When Forming an LLC
As the end of the year approaches, many entrepreneurs begin to think about taking the leap to start a business, and look to the limited liability company (“LLC”) as the vehicle to…
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![Business Formation Lawyer]()
Uber Case Adds Clarity to Click-Wrap Agreement Enforceability
The Problem: Your Terms of Use May Not Be Enforceable Website owners or software developers who take the time to have advantageous terms of use drafted for them expect that they will…
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![San Francisco attorney Michael J. Thomas]()
Take Stock: 5 IP Assets Your Small Business May Need to Protect ASAP
If your startup company is taking the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship, or you have a small business that is just finding its feet, identifying and protecting your company’s intellectual property…
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Michael Thomas Gives Interview on IP Law in Entrepreneur Video Program
An interview with yours truly about IP issues that should be on every entrepreneur’s radar will air for a limited time for free on Tuesday September 26, 2017 at 4PM EST/1PM PST.…
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![IP and LLC Client]()
CVL Client Interviewed on Grateful Dead Website
CVL client Stu Nixon, co-author of the iconic book series Deadbase, was interviewed for a feature on dead.net, the Grateful Dead’s official website. Stu and co-author Mike Dolgushkin relaunched the book series in…
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![Fair Use Defense]()
Fair Use Friday: Dirty Grinch Parody Transformative, Says Court
On Friday September 15th a judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that a raunchy play based on the Dr. Suess book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” amounted to a…
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Monk Estate Not So Jazzed, Files Trademark Infringement Suit
In a blow to beer drinkers who appreciate North Coast Brewing Co.’s “Brother Theolonius” Belgian Style Abbey Ale (this author included), the estate of jazz legend Theolonius Monk filed a complaint against the…
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Fair Use Not So Fair for Defendants in Recent Copyright Cases
Two recent cases demonstrate the limits of crying fair use in response to copyright infringement claims, particularly because they show the perils of arguing the defense to have a case dismissed at…
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![Intellectual Property Protection]()
IP Followup: Aftermath of Tam, and More Copyright Registration Discord
A couple of recent events in IP law offer codas to issues discussed in this blog earlier in the year. Here is a quick recap: Redskins Trademark Registration Case Dies After SCOTUS Tam Ruling…
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Summer of Love (and Knockoffs) Continues with Jewelry Copyright Case
Brighton Collectibles, a Los Angeles women’s fashion accessories company, has filed a copyright infringement suit against Macy’s over alleged infringement of its “Reno Heart Bracelet” and “Reno Heart Necklace” designs. This suit…
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![Copyright Infringement]()
Of Sneaker Pimps and the President…
No, the first portion of the title of this post does not refer to the band the Sneakers Pimps, but rather the clothing retailer Forever 21, which just narrowly avoided getting legally…
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![Trademark Registration from a San Francisco Trademark Attorney]()
Not Dead Yet: USPTO Enacts Rules for Reviving Trademark Registrations
New USPTO rules went into effect on July 8, 2017 regarding the procedures to bring trademark registrations and applications back to life after abandonment, cancellation, or expiration. The key takeaways relate to…
