Currently, Disney faces multiple termination of copyright notices filed on behalf of five comic writers and artists of the original Marvel Comics. The artists (or their heirs) claim that they played pivotal development roles in creating characters like Spider-Man and...
intellectual property
What Exactly Does “Failure to Function as a Trademark” Mean?
“Failure to function as a trademark” is one of the reasons the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may refuse to register an applicant’s proposed trademark. What does it mean? How can this happen? Quite simply, not all words, designs, or symbols used...
The Bold Business of Bold City
“Managing a business through a pandemic is not for sissies.” That is what Susan Miller with Bold City Brewery told me when I interviewed her for this article. Susan and her son, Brian Miller, started Bold City Brewery in 2008 during the recession. They survived that...
Anything and Everything Is U
Michael Moore is a future-thinking artist and designer who believes that art not only surrounds us and is a cornerstone of all cultures, but that it helps to improve our understanding of different peoples as well. Because of this, he thinks it should be part of...
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...
Words Have Power, So BOLDLYWRITE!
Communication via the written word is a talent that many people attempt to master. Maybe you dream of writing a novel but do not have any idea how to start. Or you have a blog that you are struggling to maintain. However you’re struggling with writing, you might...
You Don’t Need to Be a Professional to Make Money from a Photo Copyright
Nowhere in copyright law does it say you have to hold a degree to create original work. It does not say you need a resume or professional equipment to make money from a copyright of a photo either. What you do need is to capture a valuable image. That means being in...
State University of New York Sues Former Students for Using Trademark
It is no secret that universities have become big brands doing even bigger business. You are also probably not surprised to hear that alumni pride for nearly every well-known university is just as big. But SUNY’s lawsuit against two former students is an illustration...