The use of the ® and TM symbols is frequently misunderstood, and misuse is common. It is so widespread that examples can be found on websites, on packaging, in advertisements, and on social media. The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, indeed, states that: improper use of the federal registration symbol that is deliberate and intended to […]
Blog – Adam Garson Law
This month, the Doc is visiting Hawai’i, where he is studying how that state’s laws differ from laws on the mainland. The Doc is learning about the “Law of the Splintered Paddle”, about how the state with the most restrictive gun laws operates, and most recently, about how Hawaiian judges view the United States Supreme […]
Chilly Patents
August 17, 2026
Patent
Ice cream. Cast your mind back to the hot, sticky summers of yore. Your loyal correspondent can almost hear the dulcet strains of ‘Pop Goes the Weasel’ blasting in cheesy organ tones, pitch rising and falling on endless repeat, as the ice cream truck enticed generations of hot, sun-burnt children. The trucks served their purpose, […]
Beware of Patent Scams!
August 3, 2026
Patent
A client of ours owns and runs a successful mid-size manufacturing business. He recently received an invoice that appeared to be from the US Patent and Trademark Office. He had a patent maintenance fee coming up, so he paid the invoice. The invoice was not from the USPTO. I believed that his money had moved […]
You may have noticed Van Leeuwen Ice Cream on your local grocery store shelves. It’s packaged in pastel-colored cartons with “Van Leeuwen” written in black cursive. It’s easily identifiable and distinctive. Rebel Creamery thought it was, too. So, it copied the colors and the cursive writing and then got sued by Van Leeuwen. Rebel just didn’t lose […]
Ask Dr. Copyright® About AI Chatbots
July 30, 2026
Ask Dr. Copyright
Dear Doc: I read that putting information into an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot such as ChatGPT can break attorney-client privilege in some instances. Are there other things that we should worry about when we use AI? Signed,Concerned Person Who is Definitely Not a Robot Dear CP: The case you read about is United States v. Heppner. […]
The Power of Schedule ‘A’
July 16, 2026
Patent
Online marketplaces like Amazon and Walmart make patent infringement easy, quick, and largely anonymous. The marketplaces are not liable for infringement by their sellers, so a patent owner may be left playing whack-a-mole, pursuing multiple infringers from overseas (we’re looking at you, China) hiding behind fictitious names. As soon as an ad for an infringing product is […]
People have been doing business under personal names or surnames for centuries, sometimes their own names, sometimes someone else’s, and sometimes the names of historical figures. There are countless examples: Ford, Disney, McDonald’s, Ralph Lauren, Martha Stewart, Napoleon, Caesar, Lincoln, Churchill, and Tesla, to name a few. You can find all these names being used […]
Imagine this situation: You are one of a group of three Inventors. You are all smart, impressive people. One of you holds a PhD in chemical engineering and has a long career in industry Another of you is a computer scientist. A third runs her own AI development company. You all share a surname. The […]
Dear Doc: I could swear that I have seen Taylor Swift in videos on the Internet saying that she loves some product or other, or endorsing a hotel. Please tell me that my favorite singer (and top 30 songwriter) is not so crass. Signed,Swifty LaCzar Dear Swifty: Yes, TayTay is not that crass, but lots […]