Need some good reading material? Here’s a quick recap of the top IP news stories we loved diving into this month!
- “This year, you can hardly open a social media app without seeing mention of it. Both Wrapped and Instagram stories have been around since 2016, but Wrapped only started utilising the format last year thanks to artist Jewel Ham, who was working as a Spotify design intern when she conceived of the idea, never knowing her work would become such a big part of Spotify’s current Wrapped iteration — and never getting the proper due for it.” – The Intern Who Created Spotify Wrapped’s Story Format Never Got Her Due, Refinery29
- “A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled against Moderna in two COVID-19 vaccine patent challenges, putting the pharmaceutical company at risk of being sued. The U.S. Court of Appeals bolstered an administrative panel’s conclusion that patents belonging to Canadian biopharmaceutical company Arbutus Biopharma Corporation are justified since the science utilized was not known previously…” – Appeals court rules against Moderna in COVID-19 vaccine patent challenges, The Hill
- “Movie studio Miramax said Tuesday it is suing actor and director Quentin Tarantino over his plans to release non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, of “exclusive scenes” from Pulp Fiction, citing copyright and trademark infringement and a breach of contract, and setting the stage for a battle over who gains the rights to release film NFTs.” – Miramax Sues Quentin Tarantino Over Plans To Release ‘Pulp Fiction’ NFTs, Forbes
- “If patents are worthwhile and the USPTO is going to continue to issue them, then why at some point don’t challenges cease? What is the value in a right, or government franchise, if it never settles and can be challenged right up until the last day it exists?” – The PTAB Desperately Needs Reform, Not Preservation, IPWatchdog
- “Facebook engaged in what might be an almost unprecedented un-branding effort. The hope is not to turn away from all the significance, notoriety and goodwill of the “Facebook” trademark which has accumulated ever since the company’s founding.” – Is ‘Meta’ Really A Better Trademark? Don’t Let ‘Facebook’ Be Your Playbook, Forbes
- “Over 2.2 million YouTube videos were hit with copyright claims that were later overturned between January and June of this year, according to a new report published by the company today. The Copyright Transparency Report is the first of its kind published by YouTube, which says it will update biannually going forward.” – YouTube reveals millions of videos get hit with incorrect copyright claims, The Verge
Final tidbits: NFT pros and cons explained; Santa Monica College IP Educator Awardees join Future of Work podcast (Spotify | Apple); TFL discusses impact of industry maven Virgil Abloh on fashion IP after recent passing; The downsides of university innovation districts; monetizing success in the new creator economy
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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.