St. Louis Legal Issues Blog
Katy Perry wins latest round of copyright infringement battle
Six years after a copyright infringement lawsuit was filed against her, Katy Perry has won a victory thanks to a federal appeals court. However, this likely isn’t the end of the saga. Back in 2014, Christian rapper Marcus Gray, perhaps better known by his stage name Flame, alleged that Perry and her co-songwriters plagiarized a […]
Mar 24 2020 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Did John Bolton steal Lin-Manuel Miranda’s song title?
When former National Security Advisor John Bolton announced that his memoir would be published soon, the news was met with considerable media hoopla. The title alone — The Room Where It Happened — created a lot of buzz on Twitter. People wondered how Bolton could use the title of the most popular song from the […]
Feb 9 2020 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
When can whistleblowers disclose trade secrets?
Whistleblowers are afforded a number of protections under state and federal law in order to allow them to report alleged wrongdoing without suffering retaliation by their employers. Among these protections is immunity under certain circumstances from civil or criminal liability for disclosing trade secrets. This immunity is outlined in the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), […]
Jan 26 2020 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Online retailer pulls back in actions to protect its trademark
Many Americans who love the outdoors enjoy venturing in to the “backcountry,” which refers to undeveloped wilderness and rural areas. However, a quick Google search of the word brings up the popular online retailer Backcountry.com, which specializes in gear and clothing for the outdoor enthusiast. The company trademarked its name, and it takes that trademark […]
Jan 12 2020 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Why isn’t Disney cracking down on unauthorized Baby Yoda images?
Even many adults who don’t have children are obsessed with “Baby Yoda.” The star of the Disney Plus show The Mandalorian isn’t even called that in the series. He’s referred to only as “The Child.” However, his resemblance to the iconic Star Wars character is unmistakable. The adorable creature, who has been compared to a […]
Dec 25 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
What is ‘trade dress?’
One form of intellectual property (IP) that causes considerable confusion is “trade dress.” In the past, it tended to refer to the way a product was packaged and displayed when it was sold. Its label, box and point-of-sale (POS) displays unique to a product were considered its trade dress. However, it’s been more broadly defined […]
Dec 4 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Intellectual property you should protect as a restaurant owner
Among the many keys to success in the restaurant business is differentiating yourself from your competition. That means not just having good food and the right ambiance for the customers you want to attract. It means protecting the things that make your restaurant(s) unique. Much of that can be protected under intellectual property (IP) laws. […]
Nov 28 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Anheuser-Busch sues rival for illegally obtaining its recipes
For many people who live in and around St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the quintessential brewer. Now, Anheuser-Busch InBev, the company behind Budweiser, Michelob and other popular brands, is wrangling in court with its rival MillerCoors. The battle started this March when MillerCoors sued Anheuser-Busch over a commercial that aired during the Super Bowl. The ad […]
Oct 21 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Daughter revives lawsuit that Stan Lee dropped before his death
Before he died late last year, the late comic creator Stan Lee filed a $1 billion lawsuit against POW! Entertainment. The man known worldwide a creator of a multitude of Avengers characters claimed that executives with the company took advantage of his declining health. He said they induced him to sign away rights to his […]
Oct 3 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation
Why does LeBron James want to trademark ‘Taco Tuesday?’
The term “Taco Tuesday” is used in homes, school cafeterias and restaurants throughout the country. Therefore, some people have considered basketball superstar LeBron James’ recent move to trademark it to be somewhat audacious. The trademark request was filed last month by LBJ Trademarks LLC to protect the term’s use in a variety of forums, including […]
Sep 8 2019 On Behalf of David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. Intellectual Property Litigation