Blog – Adam Garson Law

15May 2016

The Functional Design Patent

May 15, 2016 Robert Yarbrough Patent

If you have patents or have been involved in patenting, then you have heard about the difference between design and utility patents. The explanation probably went something like this: A utility patent protects how a thing does what it does. A design patent protects the appearance of the thing. And: A design patent cannot […]

01May 2016

Ask Dr. Copyright…About Trade Secrets

May 1, 2016 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: I know that this is not a copyright question, but I have heard that trade secrets are about to get a lot more important. What’s up? Signed, Johnny Rivers Dear Johnny: You hear right. On April 27, 2016, by a vote of 410-2, the US House of Representatives passed the Defend Trade Secrets […]

11Apr 2016

Ask Dr. Copyright … notice terminating transfers of publishing rights

April 11, 2016 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: I’m an aspiring musician. I write the songs that make the whole world sing. Lately, it seems that I’m having to work much harder to become an overnight success. After all, I write the songs that make the young girls cry. Can you help? Signed, Mandy Dear Mandy: Woof! Wooof, grrrr. Woof! (But […]

11Apr 2016

Supreme Court Dabbles in Patent Law, Again

April 11, 2016 Robert Yarbrough Litigation, Patent

The first general rule is that whenever the Supreme Court accepts a patent case, it will reverse the lower court decision and change the law. The second general rule is that whenever the Supreme Court decides a patent case the law is left in worse shape than it was before. This time, the Supremes have […]

04Apr 2016

Words, War, Film, and the First Amendment

April 4, 2016 Adam Garson Uncategorized

When lawyers and lay people talk about “intellectual property” (IP) they are usually referring to patents, trademarks, copyright, and trade secrets. But IP may consist of other rights including the “right of publicity.” The right of publicity refers to those rights related to control of the commercial use of one’s identity typically consisting of a […]

01Apr 2016

Posting Images on Flickr: Is it Publication?

April 1, 2016 Adam Garson Copyright

During a recent presentation on copyright law to the Lehigh Valley Photography Club, several members expressed an interest in knowing whether posting images to a photo sharing site such as Flickr.com was “publication” for purposes of copyright registration. I expressed my opinion that it is publication. I thought it would be useful to take a […]

28Mar 2016

Patenting Replacement Parts and Consumables

March 28, 2016 Robert Yarbrough Patent

Entire industries are built around the business model of a cheap product and expensive consumables for that product – think ink jet printers, electric toothbrushes and shaving razors. Controlling replacement parts also is a lucrative sideline for manufacturers of big-ticket items – prime examples are automobile fenders and other collision repair parts. So why don’t […]

21Mar 2016

Ask Dr. Copyright… Is Mayo Patentable

Dear Doc: I hear that in patent law, there’s a new worry about “Mayo”. What’s up? Did someone leave it out of the fridge? Did it spoil? Did folks get sick? Signed, The Entire Pharmaceutical Industry Dear Industry: The “Mayo” you heard about has spoiled a lot of things, and is likely to cause a […]

14Mar 2016

Ask Dr. Copyright — the “GMen” want Apple to unlock my iPhone

Dear Doc: I heard the the “GMen” want Apple to unlock my iPhone, so that they can see the “stuff” I have saved in there. I thought my iPhone was encrypted and that only my passcode would open it. What gives? Signed, I’d Rather Not Say Dear Mr. Say: You heard mostly right. The FBI […]

08Mar 2016

Trademark Disputes Can Be So Sweeeet!

March 8, 2016 Adam Garson Trademark

In late 2013 we wrote about a trademark dispute between the Hershey Company and Mars Inc. over whether Mars had trademark rights in the cross-section of its Snickers candy bar. Hershey opposed the mark on grounds that it was merely descriptive, de jure functional, generic, and failed to function as a trademark. The cross-section of […]

Blog – Adam Garson Law

The Functional Design Patent

Ask Dr. Copyright…About Trade Secrets

Ask Dr. Copyright … notice terminating transfers of publishing rights

Supreme Court Dabbles in Patent Law, Again

Words, War, Film, and the First Amendment

Posting Images on Flickr: Is it Publication?

Patenting Replacement Parts and Consumables

Ask Dr. Copyright… Is Mayo Patentable

Ask Dr. Copyright — the “GMen” want Apple to unlock my iPhone

Trademark Disputes Can Be So Sweeeet!

Contact Adam Garson, Esq.

Sign-up for Monthly Emails

Top Rated

Recent News

Search this Website

Blog – Adam Garson Law

Contact Adam Garson, Esq.

Sign-up for Monthly Emails

Top Rated

Connect on Social Media

Recent News

Search this Website