“I’m just here so I won’t get fined” Trademarked by Lynch in Response to Fans

Last week, Seattle Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch filed a trademark of the now-household phrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined,” which he popularized during Super Bowl XLIX media day.

Marshawn Lynch has had a storied history with the media, giving reporters little to nothing worth printing during interviews. Some say it is selfish for him to withhold his opinion from his fan base, and some say it is unfair to force the football player to speak about the game. Either …

February 26, 2015 NFL / Trademark

Lawyers for Redskins Put Different Spin on Trademark Case

The Redskins filed a motion to overturn the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board’s decision to cancel the team’s trademark because it infringes on freedom of speech rights and “unfairly singles the team out.”

The lawyers for the team argued that the cancellation decision “unfairly singles out the Redskins for disfavored treatment based solely on the content of its protected speech, interfering with the ongoing public discourse over the Redskins’ name by choosing sides and cutting off the debate. This the U.S. Constitution does not tolerate.”…

February 25, 2015 Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / Trademark

Washington Redskins Argue a Violation of their Free Speech

The Washington Redskins fought back against the recent decision by the US Patent and Trademark Office cancelling the team’s trademark protection over the use of the term ‘redskin’ as many Native American groups find it disparaging.

The court papers filed Monday by the team argue the law denying registration of disparaging trademarks is unconstitutional because it infringes on the team’s First Amendment right to free speech. The team’s attorneys argue the cancellation of the trademarks disfavors the team and singles them out, “interfering with the …

February 19, 2015 Copyright / Music

Freeplay Music Sues Disney’s Maker Studios and Other MCNs for Copyright Infringement

Freeplay Music, a music licensing company that owns rights to 50, 000 works by various composers, is suing separately four YouTube multi-channel networks (MCNs) Disney’s Maker Studios, DreamWorks Animation’s Awesomeness, Big Frame and BroadbandTV Corp., alleging the defendants misappropriated its licensed music in YouTube videos.

More specifically, Freeplay claims Maker infringed over 45 copyrights, AwesomenessTV and Big Frame together infringed on 14 copyrights, and BroadbandTV infringed on more than 70 copyrights.

It was only last week that Freeplay was in the news when two …

February 8, 2015 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

“Left Shark” Replica Vendor has Perry’s Attorneys Circling

On Wednesday, February 4, Katy Perry’s attorneys preyed on an Orlando-based 3-D printer who allegedly infringed Perry’s copyrights by printing and selling replicas of the internet-famous “Left Shark” from her halftime show performance at this year’s Super Bowl.

Fernando Sosa is a 3-D artwork printer who normally creates controversial political pieces for sale and distribution. After the dancing “Left Shark” from Katy Perry’s Super Bowl halftime show became an overnight media sensation, even being named Super Bowl MVP by SB Nation, Sosa …

January 29, 2015 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / Music

“Blurred Lines” Copyright Lawsuit Jury Barred from Listening to Original “Got To Give It Up”

Despite the alleged similarities between Robin Thicke’s hit song “Blurred Lines” and Marvin Gaye’s 1977 “Got To Give It Up,” the jury sitting in the copyright infringement suit will not hear the original recording of the song at all. On January 26, U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt in a pre-trial hearing ruled that the actual sound recording of the 1977 hit would be barred.

Judge Krondstadt ruled because Gaye’s performance in the original recording is not at issue, allowing interpretations of the musical …

January 28, 2015 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark

Tom Petty Receives Writing Credit for “Stay With Me;” Sam Smith Claims it Coincidence

Over the weekend, it was reported that Grammy-nominated recording artist, Sam Smith, agreed last year to a settlement with Tom Petty over a copyright dispute with Smith’s song “Stay With Me.”

Sam Smith’s three time Grammy nominated hit single “Stay With Me” released last year, has drawn considerable attention for its catchy melody over the last year. It has also received considerable attention for that melody’s unmistakable similarity to Tom Petty’s 1989 hit “I Won’t Back Down.” The clear similarity raised between the songs raised …

English Car Maker Rolls Out Legal Team to Protect its Trademark from Rapper Royce Rizzy

Last Wednesday, English automaker Rolls-Royce filed a lawsuit in the US District of New Jersey last week against up-and-coming rapper, Royce Rizzy, for trademark infringement. The lawsuit stems from the rapper’s use of the Royce trademark and the “RR Badge.”

The lawsuit claims that Atlanta based Royce Rizzy, otherwise known as Robert Davis, has been using the Rolls Royce trademarks to benefit his rapping career. The luxury automaker cited to his YouTube channel advertisements, his Facebook page, his website, and a “Team Rolls Royce” t-shirt …

Photographer Claims Infringement by Nike on ‘Jumpman’ Logo

On Thursday, January 22, a professional photographer filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Nike Inc. for their alleged excessive use of his iconic photograph of a mid-air Michael Jordan, which ultimately became the “Jumpman” logo.

In 1984, professional photographer, Jacobus Rentmeester, held a photo-shoot of Michael Jordan on the University of North Carolina campus for an up-coming LIFE magazine issue. At that photo-shoot, he captured one of the most well-known images in both sports and fashion. Rentmeester’s lawsuit claims Nike paid $150 for …

January 21, 2015 Copyright / Intellectual Property, Copyright, and Trademark / Litigation

Beastie Boys Want to Avoid Pyrrhic Victory, Ask For $2.4 Million from Monster

Over the weekend, the Beastie Boys filed with the SDNY, seeking $2.4 million in legal fees from Monster Energy to pay for their recent copyright infringement litigation.

In June, the world-renowned rap group won $1.7 million in a lawsuit against Monster Energy. The Beasties claimed, and Monster admitted during trial, that the energy drink producer used five of their songs without authorization in an online marketing video. The $1.7 million awarded, however, is not enough to cover the extensive legal fees that the band accumulated …