Insights
Are You Eligible for the 60-Day Grace Period?
Fact pattern: Our top candidate is on H-1B status and his prior job was terminated. He is on his 60-day grace period and anxious to start working for us. How does the H-1B 60-day grace period work? What do we need to know to hire this candidate? Here are some...
TTAB Dismisses Claim Pitting HUNGR against HUNGRY Due to False Evidence and Spoliation
What happens when rival food ordering application software uses similar names? In the case of Rapid, Inc. and Hungry Marketplace, Inc., the former sues the latter over using a mark they argued would cause a “likelihood of confusion” with their existing mark. With...
Christmas in August: Lawsuit Brought Against Mariah Carey
When an individual artist achieves a certain level of material success and fame, the Piece of the Pie Effect can occur: Smaller artists try to obtain credit and compensation for their part in the success. This is often achieved through intellectual property means. ...
IP vs. First Amendment: Vans Sues for Trademark Infringement Over “Wavy Baby” Sneakers
In the most recent chapter of a suit brought by Vans against MSCHF – which labels itself as more of an “art collective” than a “company” – and collaborator Tyga, rapper and shoe designer, MSCHF is claiming that their very-similar-to-Vans shoes are protected by the...
Bakery Gives Up the Mochi Muffin Trademark
In Berkeley, CA, Third Culture Bakery recently released its trademark on the baked good “mochi muffin.” The bakery’s legal representation had sent cease-and-desist letters to several other bakeries in the area that served mochi muffins. Public backlash via social...
How Does the 240-day Employment Authorization Extension Work?
When an employer timely files a petition for an employee in H-1B, H-1B1, L-1, O-1, E-3 or TN status to extend his/her employment in the same status, the employee may continue to work for the same employer for an additional 240 days beyond the expiration of their...
Fraud in the World of Trademark Registrations
This past week, my law firm received documents from the “Patent & Trademark Bureau,” located in Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, stating that our law firm’s trademarks were scheduled for renewal. The document listed the wrong renewal date and instructed that the...
The Copyright Struggle Over Lakota Written Language
Is there a space for communal ownership in U.S. copyright law? And what purpose would it serve? In May of this year, Standing Rock banned the Lakota Language Consortium (LLC), The Language Conservancy, and their founders, Wilhelm Meya and Jan Ullrich from the...