Need some good reading material? Here’s a quick recap of the top IP news stories we loved diving into this month!
- “In November, two trademark applications were filed in the US by third-parties to use the Gucci and Prada logos in a range of metaverse-related arenas, including “downloadable virtual goods”, virtual worlds and virtual clothing used in virtual spaces. And on metaverse platforms with user-generated content, such as Roblox, creators are currently selling clothes that feature logos from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chanel.” – How to trademark the metaverse, Vogue Business
- “Last year, Knight launched Knight Choreography and Music Publishing Inc. with the goal of addressing that inequity head-on. To compel the entertainment world to respect dance artists, his new enterprise has begun copyrighting commercial choreography—not just Knight’s work, but also the work of other creators, particularly artists of color. ” – JaQuel Knight: Changing the Game, From Choreography to Copyright, Dance Magazine
- “…[looking] at key IP cases to watch in 2022. They recommend keeping an eye on a U.S. Supreme Court case involving patent eligibility, and two potential Supreme Court cases that could affect the biotech and pharma industries, as well as a case that involves artwork by Andy Warhol..” – Top Intellectual Property Issues to Watch in 2022, Bloomberg Law
- “I just never thought for a moment that I could face legal action for using the Aboriginal flag that I thought belonged to all Aboriginal people,” said Ms. Thompson, who is from the Gunditjmara tribe and is the chief executive of Clothing the Gaps, a fashion social enterprise in Melbourne. Now, two and a half years later, the Australian government has bought the copyright to the flag for 20 million Australian dollars ($14 million), a move that allows anyone to reproduce the emblem on clothing, merchandise and artworks without seeking permission or paying a fee.” – Australian Government Buys Copyright to Indigenous Flag, New York Times
- “Mattel announced that it had won back the license to produce dolls and toys based on the Walt Disney Company’s popular ice princesses Elsa and Anna from the “Frozen” movie franchise. ” – Disney Princess dolls are reunited with Barbie., New York Times
- “It’s US Software Inc’s bid to also register its Potify brand as a trademark that sparked the current dispute. When considering claims that one company’s proposed trademark would dilute that of another, the first thing the trademark board needs to consider is the similarity between the two companies’ brands.” – Spotify successfully blocks Potify trademark application, Complete Music Update
Final tidbits: How NFTs Have Changed Digital Art; Patents And Innovation legislation overview
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The Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property, an initiative of the Michelson 20MM Foundation, provides access to empowering IP education for budding inventors and entrepreneurs. Michelson 20MM was founded thanks to the generous support of renowned spinal surgeon Dr. Gary K. Michelson and Alya Michelson. To learn more, visit 20mm.org.