More Oversight is Coming!

About one year ago today, I wrote a post called “Changes are Coming – Be Prepared to Disclose Beneficial Ownership in 2021.” Although those changes (i.e. the requirement that all businesses disclose their beneficial owners in a federally run database) have not come to pass yet, they are still on the way – so keep … Read more

Your Face, is My Case: Personality Rights

Of all the TV attorneys out there, Jackie Chiles is my favorite. Close second, of course, is Denny Crane, but Jackie certainly takes the top prize. Jokes aside, the title of today’s post is “Your Face, is My Case,” because we’re talking about likeness and image rights, sometimes collectively referred to as “personality rights.” From … Read more

Please Keep My (Trade) Secret

Talkin’ about trade secrets! While other forms of protection such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks require upfront costs and disclosure of some sort, trade secrets do not. In this article we will examine a few of the benefits that trade secret protection offers. Benefit One – Trade Secrets Protect Information That Other Forms of IP Protection Do … Read more

A Turning Point: Wisconsin Transitions to USDA Hemp Program Under 2018 Farm Bill

It’s finally here everyone. After numerous Emergency Rules and a stepped transition, Wisconsin is ready to jump into the deep end and fully transition to a hemp program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the 2018 Farm Bill. As of the 2022 crop year, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and … Read more

Cyberpunk 2077 – A Good Lesson in Copyright vs. Trademark

Cyberpunk 2077 is the 2020\2021 equivalent of Duke Nukem Forever: Protracted development timeline, multiple delays, and upon eventual release – mixed reviews. Although Cyberpunk certainly faired much better than Nukem did from a gameplay and critical reception standpoint – the legal fallout experienced by CD Projekt (developer of Cyberpunk) has been decidedly much worse. Not … Read more

Another Emergency Rule: More Changes for Hemp Growers and Processors in Wisconsin

Effective May 3, 2021 DATCP (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) published an Emergency Rule making further changes to Wisconsin’s Hemp Pilot Program. Although Wisconsin is still operating under a “Pilot Program” pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill, this Emergency Rule (and the others before it) are meant to add flexibility … Read more

Fearless (The Legal Version)

Big weekend! Taylor Swift has re-released her 2008 album “Fearless” to claw back ownership of, and agency over, her music after the much publicized sale of the original master recordings to a private equity firm. The release, of course, is taglined, “Taylor’s Version” – but what is the (copyright) legality behind how Taylor was able … Read more