Ask Dr. Copyright

Ask Dr. Copyright is a monthly column that tackles common misconceptions in the areas of intellectual property law especially, copyright.

17Apr 2025

Ask Dr. Copyright© About Patent Trolls

April 17, 2025 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Patent

Dear Doc: I hear that courts are once again trying to crack down on “patent trolls.” What is a patent troll, and why should courts try to squash them? Signed,Under a Bridge Dear UB: Patents are called “intellectual property” in much the same way as land is called “real property” and your car is “personal […]

20Mar 2025

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Birkenstocks

March 20, 2025 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: Some things are protected by trademarks. Some by copyrights. Some by “trade dress”. Others by design patents. Some by utility patents. And others by trade secrets. How do you lawyers decide which is which, and can it be more than one? Signed, Confused Again Dear CA: Yes…this can be confusing, and often the stakes […]

20Feb 2025

Ask Dr. Copyright® About His Opinion

February 20, 2025 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Patent

Dear Doc: Every time I read about some new case being decided by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, I get more confused about what exactly is the patent (or trademark) law that they are using. What gives? Signed,Dazed and Confused Dear D&C: It seems to the Ol’ Doc that over the past […]

16Jan 2025

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Publicity Rights

January 16, 2025 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: I have heard that there is an intellectual property right called the “right to publicity.” What is that and how does it work? Signed, Prime Woman Dear PW: Here is a HYPOTHETICAL that will answer your question about publicity rights… President-Elect Donald Trump will try to sell just about anything he can put his […]

21Nov 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Privacy

November 21, 2024 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Privacy

Dear Doc: I know this question is not about intellectual property, but I hear that you’ve been lecturing about privacy recently, and I wonder if you’ve heard about Flock license plate readers and a lawsuit claiming that they violate the Fourth Amendment. Signed, Creeped Out Dear Creeped: Yup! The “Doc” has given lectures at many […]

17Oct 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Clowns

October 17, 2024 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: What is the strangest form of intellectual property protection you’ve ever run across? Signed,Ronald McD. Dear Ronald: Without a doubt, the most unusual form of protection of an idea or expression is the Clown Egg Register in Wookey Hole, England (the “Register”). The Doc is indebted to David Fagundes and Aaron Perzanowski and […]

26Sep 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Political Campaigns and Music

September 26, 2024 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright

Dear Doc: Political campaigns seem to have become entertainment, featuring musical introductions, interludes between speeches, and soundtracks to commercial spots. But what if a musical artist disagrees with the positions of the sponsor of the event? Can she prevent the use of her music entirely, or charge a very high royalty, which she then donates […]

22Aug 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Coffee

Dear Doc: I understand that under United States Trademark Law, you can’t register marks that are “primarily geographically descriptive” as you can in other countries, but you may register “geographic indications” as certification or collective marks. For example, in France, champagne has to actually come from Champagne and Roquefort has to come from Roquefort. The […]

25Jul 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright® About ‘Surname’ Trademarks

Dear Doc: In the United States, you can register just about any trademark on just about anything. Marks that are not okay in foreign countries (like place names such as “champagne”) are routinely used and registered in the USofA. Why, then, did the Supreme Court nix registration of the mark “Trump Too Small”? Signed,Rube Marko […]

29Apr 2024

Ask Dr. Copyright — He tackles the Basics!

April 29, 2024 Lawrence Husick Ask Dr. Copyright, Copyright, Intellectual Property

Dear Doc: You often write complicated articles about interesting and esoteric matters of intellectual property law. How about something at a more basic level that I can share with my children to help them understand what copyright is all about? Signed, Loco Parentis Dear Loco (and which among us parents is not loco from […]

Ask Dr. Copyright

Ask Dr. Copyright© About Patent Trolls

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Birkenstocks

Ask Dr. Copyright® About His Opinion

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Publicity Rights

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Privacy

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Clowns

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Political Campaigns and Music

Ask Dr. Copyright® About Coffee

Ask Dr. Copyright® About ‘Surname’ Trademarks

Ask Dr. Copyright — He tackles the Basics!

Contact Adam Garson, Esq.

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