BY OLIVER HERZFELD, FORBES IP COUNSEL, MAY 29, 2013 - The popularity of 3D printing has been increasing dramatically while the prices for such printers have been rapidly decreasing. In addition to toys and gadgets, real-world practical uses include a virtually unlimited number of potential devices and replacement parts for the aerospace, automotive, medical, military and other industries. Not surprisingly, this relatively new technology has raised many legal issues. For example, Senator Charles E. Schumer has called for legislation banning 3D printed guns since manufacturing such plastic weapons could easily circumvent background checks, registration requirements and metal detectors. And a new type of 3D printer could use chemical inks to quickly print legal and useful chemical compositions such as authorized pharmaceuticals and vaccines, but also illegal drugs and chemical weapons such as ricin or chlorine gas. An important category of legal issues relating to 3D printing involves the protection of 3D designs and objects under intellectual property laws. This series of three posts will review and summarize such protections under US intellectual property law starting with copyrights.
Read MoreMay 16, 2013, Boulder, CO., – THANASI Foods, LLC is pleased to announce yet another category first with its new BIGS® - OLD BAY® Catch of the Day Sunflower Seeds.
Read MoreMay 8, 2013, New York, NY.. – Beanstalk, a leading global brand licensing agency and consultancy, has partnered with digital strategy and execution agency, Digital Brand Architects (DBA), to build a licensing program for two of their most acclaimed digital brands: Bag Snob and Mrs. Lilien.
Read MoreApril 22, 2013, London, U.K., – BIG JOHN, Japan’s first domestic denim brand, today announced plans to extend the brand in Asia, working with leading global brand licensing agency, Beanstalk.
Read MoreBY MICHAEL STONE, FORBES CMO NETWORK, APRIL 22, 2013 - Like an awkward Hollywood love triangle, the J.C. Penney, Martha Stewart and Macy’s saga continued last week as the three fought over Justice Jeffrey K. Oing’s April 5th decision to temporarily allow J.C. Penney to sell Martha Stewart-designed products under the JCP Everyday label.
Read MoreBY OLIVER HERZFELD, FORBES IP COUNSEL, MARCH 19, 2013 - Sport and lifestyle brand Oakley recently commenced a lawsuit against Rory McIlroy and Nike, claiming McIlroy entered into a broad “head to toe” equipment, apparel and footwear endorsement agreement with Nike in breach of the right of first refusal provision in his prior endorsement agreement with Oakley that expired on December 31, 2012.
Read MoreBY OLIVER HERZFELD, FORBES IP COUNSEL, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 - In the recent case of Abraham v. Alpha Chi Omega, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion regarding a fascinating dispute that involved a failure to enforce trademarks for more than 40 years.
Read MoreBY MICHAEL STONE, FORBES CMO NETWORK, FEBRUARY 12, 2013 - In a recent interview with MSN’s “The Grio,” Kimora Lee Simmons stated she and former husband Russell Simmons “laid the blueprint” for celebrity designed clothing lines. I think I speak for others when I say, really? Ms. Simmons has definitely carved out a place for herself in the fashion world, and I applaud her for that, but to proclaim she is a founding father of sorts in celebrity fashion is a bit presumptuous.
Read MoreFebruary 5, 2013, New York, N.Y., – Beanstalk, a leading global brand licensing agency, today announced the appointment of finance veteran Marc Schneider as Chief Financial Officer. In his role, Schneider will be responsible for all aspects of Beanstalk’s global Finance and Operations including overseeing management of the agency’s best-in-class financial systems and platforms. Schneider will also be the primary liaison to the corporate financial team of Omnicom Group, Beanstalk’s parent company.
Read MoreFebruary 4th, 2013, London, U.K., – Chewits, the iconic British confectionery brand owned by Leaf U.K., today announced plans to extend the brand through licensing, represented by leading global brand licensing agency, Beanstalk.
Read MoreBY OLIVER HERZFELD, FORBES IP COUNSEL, JANUARY 29, 2013 - Following cyclist Lance Armstrong’s recent, but less than fully contrite, admission to Oprah Winfrey that for more than a decade he (i) used performance enhancing drugs, and (ii) repeatedly made false public statements denying that he did so, on January 22, 2013, a federal class-action lawsuit was filed in California against Armstrong and his book publishers, Penguin and Random House.
Read MoreBY MICHAEL STONE, FORBES CMO NETWORK, JANUARY 23, 2013 - From products based on the heart-pumping novel 50 Shades of Grey, to Band-Aid’s use of an app to create augmented reality featuring the Muppets, to HGTV-branded live plants, 2012 was chock-full of innovative brand extensions. So, before 2013’s brand innovations steal the limelight, let’s take one last look at last year’s best licensed partnerships.
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