A new federal bill aims to put golf courses on “par” with other architectural designs by expanding federal copyright protection to golf courses. Copyright law in the United States, rooted in the U.S. Constitution, ensures protection for “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression” (17 U.S.C. § 102(a)). This broad definition
Intellectual Property
In His Trademark Era: Will Travis Kelce be Successful in Filing a Trademark Application to Protect His Name?
Is Travis Kelce’s newfound status as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend enough to meet the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) “acquired distinctiveness” standard? He plans to find out with the help of Time Person of the Year, Taylor Swift. Swift is no stranger to using intellectual property to effectively protect her brand and music. In…
What’s in a Name? Too Much to Trademark According to the USPTO
With the U.S. Supreme Court beginning a new session, many are wondering what new issues the Court will address this term. One case the Court is scheduled to hear involves the relationship between the Lanham Act and First Amendment. Specifically, the Court will determine whether Section 1052(c) of the Lanham Act, which prohibits individuals from…
Artificial Intelligence in the Modern Workplace: A Multi-Part Series Highlighting Concerns and Implications of Using Artificial Intelligence Within a Company
As artificial intelligence (AI) grows in prevalence and accessibility, it is important for employers to consider the implications of its use by their employees. One method of anticipating and quelling potential liabilities that may arise is through deploying certain internal AI policies. This article focuses on certain issues employers should strongly consider when drafting and…
What Does It Mean to be Human: Copyright Office Confirms That AI-Generated Works Are Not Works of Human Authorship
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently found that human prompting of AI-generated works does not satisfy the “authorship” requirement for copyright protection. Under the Copyright Act of 1976, copyright protection attaches “immediately” upon the creation of “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression,” provided those works meet…
Dangers of Playing Nice: The IP Pitfalls Associated with Collaborative Branding
Collaborative branding is a marketing strategy where two businesses collaborate to increase the value of their brands. This co-branding allows the partner companies to share the costs of the collaboration while also expanding into each other’s consumer audiences. An example of this collaborative model is the Nike/Tiffany shoe that merges the iconic Nike swoosh and…