(Podcast) The Briefing: Are LEGO Creations Based on Religious Texts Eligible for Copyright Protection?
The Briefing: Are LEGO Creations Based on Religious Texts Eligible for Copyright Protection?
The UK GDPR Children’s Code
Most companies would love to have their product become a viral sensation, but in the age of viral media and “internet dupes,” companies are forced to fire on all cylinders to successfully secure and defend the intellectual...more
If you have been on the internet the past few weeks, you likely have seen the latest viral sensation: Labubu. Labubu is a small monster figurine with a mischievous smile, a furry body and endless opportunities to be used as...more
At the end of last year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved an Operating Plan for Fiscal Year 2025, which includes CPSC’s strategic priorities and resource allocations for the coming year. Stated...more
In September, Pennsylvania Attorney General (AG) Michelle Henry filed a lawsuit against Pittsburgh-based Digital Dream Labs, Inc., and its CEO, Harold Jacob Hanchar, individually and in his capacity as CEO. In the lawsuit,...more
Imitation may be considered the sincerest form of flattery, but in the world of intellectual property (IP), it might cost you....more
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently released a detailed proposal and is seeking comments for new regulations governing button cell and coin batteries in toys intended for children under 14 years of age....more
The holidays are upon us, including “cyber week” filled with deals for shopping for the holidays. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is warning shoppers about smart toys this holiday season. In its article,...more
The creator of a LEGO brick Second Holy Temple product is accusing another LEGO creator of copyright infringement for their interpretation of the same temple. Scott Hervey and Eric Caligiuri discuss this case on this episode...more
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has published a final rule adopting a mandatory safety standard for consumer products that utilize button cell or coin batteries. CPSC enacted the rule as required by...more
Summer 2023 is heating up to be the Summer of Barbie. Last week Mattel filed a Notice of Opposition against Burberry’s proposed “BRBY” trademark with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board asserting likelihood of confusion with...more
The European Commission’s (EC) Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) announced the release of its final opinion on the safety of titanium dioxide in toys on June 27, 2023. Following the...more
For consumers who were too stuffed from their Thanksgiving feasting or too weary of stressful bargain hunting to jam the malls or to flock to the internet for Black Friday deals, the words to the wise have started flowing on...more
With the holiday season upon us, kids will likely receive toys as gifts in the coming weeks. While the end of the year is a time for celebration, you must be cautious with all toys given to your children. Federal and...more
The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) already provides considerable requirements for compliance programs. With Brexit comes a new GDPR for the United Kingdom. Adding to the complexity, the UK GDPR also...more
At first blush, the recent lawsuit filed by a toy inventor against toy and game company, Hasbro, would seem to have little to do with the advertising industry. In fact, however, the decision by the Southern District of New...more
The European Commission (“EC”) gets started with its plans to improve toy safety in Europe with a Public Consultation leading the way to a new legislative proposal envisaged for Q4 2022. The new legislation is expected to put...more
There is a federal law, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), that requires app developers to obtain parental consent before collecting information from children under the age of 13. The law has been on the...more
It’s that time of year again when we start to think about holiday gifts and Black Friday shopping. So as any good privacy pro knows, the Mozilla *privacy not included guide is the place to go to learn about the “creepiness”...more
While smart toys can certainly be useful educational tools for children, they also present some potential privacy risks and could invade what is traditionally a private space. Think about it—the thought of your child’s toy...more
CARU Warns Kids Off of Consuming Sugary, Fruit-Scented Doll Tears - Sometimes you write a title so strange that a subtitle seems superfluous - Kids Today - The holy grail of toy manufacturing is the collectible—the marketing...more
The California Court of Appeal recently upheld the dismissal of claims against Mattel, which alleged that Mattel stole the idea for its flying Barbie doll from Technology from Heaven Unlimited (“TFHU”). Applying New York law,...more
When it comes to patents, toys typically are not top of mind like a mobile device or pharmaceutical product might be. Although a toy may appear simple, the product itself can be iconic and lucrative. But, as in most...more
Since 2015, the advent of smart and internet-connected toys has, according to some practitioners, transformed this age from that of the “Internet of Things” to the “Internet of Toys.” The potential unlawful surveillance and...more
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Mattel’s very first black Barbie®, which debuted in 1980 and was designed by fashion pioneer Kitty Black Perkins, a native of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Perkins’ hard work and...more