Insights
I Invented a Word. How Do I Trademark or Copyright It?
“I invented a new word. How do I trademark it?” This is a question I was asked by a potential client this week. My response was, “What is the product or service?” There was a long pause. A word is not a trademark — unless it is used to identify a product or service...
The Trouble with International Students and Online Courses — What You Need to Know Now
Due to COVID-19, SEVP instituted a temporary exemption earlier this year. It allowed international students to take more online classes for the spring and summer semesters than normally permitted for the purposes of maintaining a full course of study, which enables...
Discover How to Complete Form I-9 Under the New Flexible Rules. USCIS Shows Us How.
In an unusual move, USCIS recently posted examples of annotated Forms I-9 as guidance for employers. They cover both remote employment authorization inspection and performing the required physical inspection once normal operations resume. All told, USCIS provided...
Now That the Supreme Court Upheld DACA, Marks Gray Explains What It Means for Employers, Dreamers, and Their Loved Ones.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has protected and provided employment authorization for about 700,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children, known as “Dreamers.” DHS tried to terminate DACA -- but the Supreme Court...
Maintaining Your Intellectual Property in the Midst of a Pandemic
Businesses everywhere are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as the virus sweeps across the globe. In the midst of a pandemic, owning a business still comes with the responsibility of keeping up with legal priorities. Now more than ever, it’s important to...
In the Eyes of the Consumer: US Supreme Court Rules “Booking.com” Is Protectable Mark
Written by Guest Author, Marks Gray Summer Law Clerk Julianna R. Favale On Tuesday, June 30, 2020, the United States Supreme Court, in an 8-1 ruling, upheld a lower court ruling that “Booking.com” is eligible for federal trademark registration. It was a long time...
New Rule for Group Registration in the US Copyright Office
The US Copyright Office issued a final rule this week for Group Registration of Short Online Literary Works. The Final Rule amends the regulations to establish a new type of copyright registration for works distributed online by individual writers that do not qualify...
Here’s a Peek at What a USCIS Field Office Visit Will Be Like For You Right Now
As many USCIS field offices throughout the country start to reopen and return to work, USCIS has started developing new in-person guidelines. Want to get a better idea of what to expect from a USCIS field office visit right now? Check out this recent Notice of...