2024

Here’s What Happened: Fans of the movie Home Alone 2 may remember the prank Kevin pulled on the hotel staff that ended with the phrase, “Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal”. DT Fashions LLC registered the trademark in 2013. DT’s best-selling products included t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters containing the phrase “Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal.” DT […]

Here’s What Happened: Shein Distribution Corp. holds the distinction of being one of the most famous fast fashion brands. Fast fashion is the refuge of those who want to be on the cutting edge of fashion trends but are budget conscious. Fast fashion is cheap and trendy. Fast fashion brands manufacture clothing quickly to take […]

Here’s What Happened: The Digital Millennial Copyright Act (DMCA) prohibits circumventing encryption that protects copyrighted works. This rule applies to the software embedded in retail restaurant equipment such as ovens, freezers and the machine that McDonalds uses to make McFlurrys. In the realm of unintended consequences, repairs require access to the software that runs the […]

Here’s What Happened: Air travel can be very expensive. Sometimes ticket pricing makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. For instance, it could be less expensive to fly with a stop or two than to fly directly to your destination. So you’d book a flight with your true destination in the middle and just get off the […]

Here’s What Happened: Beginning in 2004 and over the next 13 years, Propel Fuels, Inc. developed low-carbon renewable fuels. In 2015, Propel went to market with a retail high-blend renewable diesel fuel which targeted the California market. In 2017, Phillips 66 Company wanted to acquire Propel. During the due diligence phase, the parties entered into […]

Here’s What Happened: In 2005, Productos Avicolas del Sur, Inc., (PAS) began selling breaded chicken. PAS used a composite trademark containing the words POLLO PICU combined with a cartoon chicken. Then PAS ran into financial trouble. PAS neglected to file declarations of continued use. So the USPTO cancelled the registration.  In 2011, PAS’s bank froze […]

You’re a successful business owner and you’d like to plan ahead. Professionals are urging you to prepare a “succession plan” – but you look at it as a retirement plan. Getting out of the daily grind might be nice, but giving up your life’s work and your legacy business? Maybe not so nice. No matter […]

Here’s What Happened: Gail Weiss was part of the Amazon Affiliate Store program. As an affiliate, she would review products on her website. If someone clicked on the product and completed the purchase on Amazon, Gail would get a commission. Gail doesn’t sell anything. Gail named her website GABBY’S TABLE. She filed an intent to […]

Here’s What Happened: In 1983, Eddy Grant composed and recorded the song “Electric Avenue”. Eddy licensed the work to Warner Music. A Warner Music affiliate registered the copyright of the “Electric Avenue” sound recording in a compilation titled “Eddy Grant: The Greatest Hits”.  When the Warner license expired in 2006, the copyright registration reverted back […]