Judge Tells Katy Perry To Get Off Her High Horse

In what is already shaping up to be a contentious appeal, a jury in California ordered Katy Perry and several co-writers of her hit song “Dark Horse” to pay $2.8 million in damages to members of a Christian rap group, on the grounds that the 2013 chart-topper infringed the Christian group’s 2008 song “Joyful Noise.”

Utility Patent vs. Design Patent: Does It Matter?

Depending upon your invention, your situation, and your objective, the type of patent you choose to pursue can be an important decision. Each type of patent application has different strengths and weaknesses that can make a difference in maximizing the value of your intellectual property protection.

Court Upholds Gatorade’s “Sports Fuel” Slogan As Fair Use

In a unanimous ruling, the Seventh Circuit held last week that the slogan “Gatorade the Sports Fuel Company” should be considered fair use, and does not constitute trademark infringement. The ruling dealt a blow to SportFuel, Inc., a dietary supplements company which sells its own branded sports drinks under the registered SPORTFUEL trademark.

Congress Takes Another Step Toward Copyright Small Claims Court

A bill in Congress that would create a special tribunal for small copyright disputes has cleared a key procedural hurdle on its way to enactment. The Copyright Alternative in Small-claims Enforcement Act, or “CASE” Act, made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week and will soon head to the floor for a vote […]