The Conclusion of the Monkey Selfie Saga: Animals Can’t File Intellectual Property Lawsuits

Posted on April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 by mchattie

Update from our previous blog post Monkeying Around with Copyright Law On Monday, April 23, the 9thU.S Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the District Court’s ruling that copyright protection does not extend to selfies taken by a monkey. In 2011, during one of photographer David Slater’s trip to Sulawesi, Indonesia, a crested macaque, “Naruto”, took photos of Read more about The Conclusion of the Monkey Selfie Saga: Animals Can’t File Intellectual Property Lawsuits[…]

Court Denies Disney Injunction Against Redbox, Judge Rules ‘Copyright Misuse’

Posted on February 23, 2018February 24, 2018 by mchattie

Disney – Not the Happiest Place. A California federal judge has denied Disney’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have stopped Redbox from selling movie download codes. And on top of the Judge denying Disney’s injunction request, he concluded that Disney is leveraging its copyright monopoly beyond the scope of its rights stating: “This improper Read more about Court Denies Disney Injunction Against Redbox, Judge Rules ‘Copyright Misuse’[…]

3 Bills to Shake Up New Jersey Employment Law

Posted on January 8, 2018 by mchattie

Three bills recently heard by the New Jersey Senate Labor Committee pose to shake up New Jersey employment law. These three bills, A492, A4278, and S2747, address matters involving employees’ intellectual property rights, reporting services for employer service violations, and employer disclosure of wage information. The Bills will either establish new law or significantly change Read more about 3 Bills to Shake Up New Jersey Employment Law[…]

What Small Businesses & Pass-Through Entities Need to Know about the Tax Bill

Posted on December 22, 2017December 27, 2017 by mchattie

It’s official. President Trump has signed the $1.5 trillion tax bill, which is the first major tax overhaul in 30 years since Ronald Reagan. One of the main focuses we have on this news it that it increases breaks for small, so-called pass-through businesses. The tax bill formerly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts added a new Read more about What Small Businesses & Pass-Through Entities Need to Know about the Tax Bill[…]

Apple’s iPad prevents Mi Pad EU Trademark

Posted on December 6, 2017December 6, 2017 by mchattie

iPad, Mi Pad, YourPad, Who’sPad? Apple has successfully established a globally well-known product name for itself, especially in their i(insert tech product) line that when something relatively close comes along, there will be trouble. In this case, Mi (me or my depending on how you pronounce it) Pad. Apple has succeeded at preventing Chinese tech company Xiaomi Read more about Apple’s iPad prevents Mi Pad EU Trademark[…]

New Salary History Law in Effect for NYC

Posted on November 8, 2017November 10, 2017 by mchattie

To ask or not to ask? No longer a question… No matter how much preparation and practice you do before an interview, the uncomfortable question about your previous salary history can instantly throw you off your game. Many of us have gone into an interview not knowing how to answer that dreaded question and fortunately, that issue will no longer be able Read more about New Salary History Law in Effect for NYC[…]

Fair Use, Foul Use, Use Use Use

Posted on September 28, 2017 by mchattie

By Aidan Murray Would you like to see my New York play? It’s a parody, won’t you stay? I do not like your play, not one bit! It’s just not right, it doesn’t fit. It’s not fair use, you make me ill. I will take you to court and stop you I will! Fair use, Read more about Fair Use, Foul Use, Use Use Use[…]

Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Delivers Creative Cease-and-Desist Letter

Posted on September 21, 2017September 22, 2017 by mchattie

A Chicago venue decided to temporarily transform their event space into a ‘Stranger Things’ themed pop-up bar. According to their website, “The Upside Down bar concept will be the end of Summer 80’s dance party of your dreams, filled with curious Things inspired by & paying homage to the instant-classic television show. It brings you Read more about Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Delivers Creative Cease-and-Desist Letter[…]

The “First State” No Longer First in Corporate Litigation

Posted on September 20, 2017 by mchattie

By Michael V. Gattoni For the past 15 years, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform has conducted a “Lawsuit Climate Survey,” polling in-house general counsel, senior litigators or attorneys, and other senior executives at U.S. companies with at least $100 million in annual revenues. Each person polled must be knowledgeable about corporate litigation matters Read more about The “First State” No Longer First in Corporate Litigation[…]

Monkeying Around with Copyright Law

Posted on September 13, 2017 by mchattie

The two-year ‘monkey selfie’ dispute between David Slater, a British Wildlife photographer, and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has driven copyright lawyers bananas and finally reached a settlement. Monkey See. Monkey Do. This legal battle began in the Indonesian jungle when Naruto, the macaque monkey, snapped a ‘selfie’ using Slater’s unattended Read more about Monkeying Around with Copyright Law[…]