More and more, I hear some version of the same question from business owners: “We made something valuable with the help of AI. Can we protect it?” Sometimes the “something” is obvious, like marketing copy, a logo, a photo, a product description, a training guide, or software code. Sometimes it is less obvious but more … Read more
Joanna comes to OG+S with over a decade of experience in intellectual property. Working in both boutique and Legal 500 law firms, she brings a strong background in managing complex matters, coordinating with attorneys, foreign associates, and clients, and ensuring precision and efficiency throughout every stage of the legal process. Born and raised in the Washington, … Read more
We are seeing more and more scams related to trademarks. They are getting increasingly sophisticated. Please, please, please do not pay for anything over the phone. The USPTO never asks for money over the phone. The website is www.uspto.gov. It is the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). Some of the scams say things … Read more
In today’s digital era, the world of intellectual property is evolving rapidly. With technology making the technical aspects of filing trademark applications more accessible than ever, it might seem like the process is becoming straightforward. And to a certain extent, it is. With user-friendly USPTO interfaces, AI-driven tools, and abundant resources, the barriers to entry … Read more
We’re thrilled to welcome Jennifer Glass to OG+S! Jenn brings over 15 years of experience in intellectual property, specializing in patent prosecution, as well as patent and trademark docketing. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Cornerstone University. Jenn’s career spans a variety of industries within the legal field, including automotive … Read more
Copyright law can be a bit convoluted, but occasionally, the legislature does things that actually simplify life. One thing they did was to make all the copyrights expire on December 31 rather than throughout the year. The 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act gave works published or registered before 1978 a 95-year term, expiring on January … Read more
I like trademark law because it often just makes sense. For example, let’s talk about the requirement that a mark must be in use in order to obtain protection. For a trademark to be registered in the United States, it has to actually be used in a way that a customer sees the mark when … Read more
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve likely heard about the proposed rule by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban non-compete clauses. You might be wondering what this means for your business and what you should do if the rule becomes law. Let’s break it down.
My last blog post ended with a cliffhanger: but what about Jack Daniel’s and dog toys? For those of you on the edge of your seats, thanks for waiting. There are others probably thinking, “What is this guy’s deal? First, it was shoes and socks, and now it’s whiskey and dog toys?” For those readers, … Read more
This blog post builds on my previous post. This time I will be covering fair use for trademarks instead of copyright. Much like copyright, there are exceptions and limits to what protection owning a trademark can provide you, including what is and is not infringement. Fair use in the trademark space breaks down into two … Read more