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Ropes & Gray LLP

Imitation Game: Legal Considerations with Dupes-Based Business Models

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Lower-cost products that are inspired by luxury or well-known branded products —often called “dupes”—have been a fixture in the consumer marketplace for decades. From store-brand pain relievers sold in similar packaging next...more

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Carroll Shelby Licensing, Inc. v. Halicki

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Ninth Circuit holds that custom Ford Mustang called “Eleanor,” which appeared in four films from 1974 to 2000, is not entitled to character copyright protection under Towle test and that licensor of custom car design did not...more

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Gone from Copyright: Ninth Circuit Rejects Copyright Protection for Iconic “Eleanor” Shelby Mustang

Court Narrows Scope of Character Copyright, Drawing Sharp Line Between Props and Protectable Expression - Not every film icon gets legal protection. On May 27, 2025, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Eleanor—the legendary Mustang...more

International Lawyers Network

Different Kinds of Cool That Still Just Don’t Register: Why Birkenstocks & Melted Rink Ice (AKA Water) Aren’t Copyrightable

In 2015, the Wall Street Journal observed why Birkenstock sandals might be considered cool: “It’s a taboo thing,” said New York-based stylist Brian Coats, who dresses Jimmy Fallon....more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Shoe Dupes Walk a Fine Line After Recent IP Infringement Case

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Dupes of original branded items present significant intellectual property (IP) challenges in the fashion industry. Not all fashion products are entitled to IP protection and perceived similarities between products do not...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

What Were the Cooler Wars? (Part 1) — No Infringement Intended Podcast

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In this episode, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close delve into the intellectual property battle between cooler giants YETI and RTIC. They explore how YETI created a lifestyle brand of coolers and drinkware, and how RTIC brazenly...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Untwisting the Fixation Requirement: Flexible Rules on Moveable Sculptures

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded a district court’s dismissal of a claim of copyright infringement for kinetic and manipulable sculptures, finding that movable structures were sufficiently...more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

FAQs: Wine Industry Intellectual Property Protection

For wineries, managing intellectual property (IP) is crucial to maintaining brand identity and protecting creative investments. While general IP principles apply across many sectors, wineries face unique challenges and...more

Kaufman & Canoles

K&C Sports & Entertainment Law Weekly Roundup - October 2024

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Lawyers involved with a proposed multi-billion-dollar settlement of three athlete-compensation antitrust cases against the NCAA and the Power Five conferences filed documents on Thursday that included small, but potentially...more

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

Andersen v. Stability AI: Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Narrows the Case, But Only Slightly

In the lawsuit brought against them for using visual artists' work to teach their large language model, and producing near-identical copies in response to prompts, Stability AI, Midjourney, DeviantArt, and Runway AI moved to...more

ArentFox Schiff

Reflecting on the Interplay Between Real Estate and Intellectual Property in 2023 - Landmark Trademark Cases and Copyright...

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As 2023 came to an end, it offered a prime opportunity to examine significant legal developments in intellectual property case law and implications for the real estate industry in the year to come. Among other things,...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Tableware Designer Gets Heavenly Results on Its Pearly Plates

The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court decision, reversing the dismissal of a copyright claim based on lack of standing and finding ownership of the copyright in the claimant based on an...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Intellectual Property Tools for Protecting Fashion Goods

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Just as every piece of artwork is unique, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to protecting your fashion goods with intellectual property tools. Below are three possible situations in which you can use intellectual...more

Knobbe Martens

Pencil Shaped Chalk Holder Is a Non-Copyrightable Idea

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Lanard Toys Limited v. Dolgencorp LLC, Ja-Ru, Inc., and Toys “R” US - Before Lourie, Mayer, and Wallach. Appeal from the District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Summary: A useful article is not copyrightable...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

That’s Bananas: Third Circuit Examines Copyright Protection Under Star Athletica

McDermott Will & Schulte on

Applying the Supreme Court of the United States’ 2017 decision in Star Athletica v. Varsity Brands regarding the copyrightability of non-utilitarian sculptural design features (IP Update, Vol. 20, No. 4), the US Court of...more

Akerman LLP - Marks, Works & Secrets

The Third Circuit Goes Bananas

In Silvertop Associates, Inc. v. Kangaroo Manufacturing, Inc., the Third Circuit applied the two-part test set forth in the Supreme Court’s decision in Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc., and held that a full-body...more

Blank Rome LLP

An Overview of Intellectual Property Insurance Issues

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The strategic importance and economic value of intellectual property (“IP”) can hardly be overstated in today’s global marketplace. Recognizing this, companies devote considerable time and resources to protect their vital IP...more

Knobbe Martens

Burlesque Designs for the Eye: Makeup Designs in Dispute

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On December 13, 2018, Face Lace Ltd., founded by makeup artist Phyllis Cohen to provide ready-to-wear makeup designs, filed suit in the Central District of California against Bare Escentuals Inc. d/b/a Buxom Cosmetics. Face...more

Proskauer Rose LLP

Three Point Shot - December 2018

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Welcome to Three Point Shot, a newsletter brought to you by the Sports Law Group at Proskauer. Three Point Shot brings you the latest in sports law-related news and provides you with links to related materials. Your feedback,...more

Hogan Lovells

Setting the right example: China’s Supreme People’s Court selects the top 10 IP cases of 2017

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China’s Supreme People’s Court (“SPC”) has recently published its list of the “top 10 significant IP cases” for 2017, which it has done yearly since 2007. ...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Hey, Batter Batter! – Lizard Skins Goes to Bat over its Grip Tape Designs

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It’s finally the start of baseball season: you can almost feel the gentle spring breeze, smell the peanuts and popcorn, and hear the crack of the bat. You may also notice something more colorful, dotted, and perhaps...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Federal Court Rules Against Calzone Franchisor In Meaty Lawsuit Against Former Franchisee

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In a meaty decision involving the intersection of restrictive covenant and franchise law, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio recently denied a request by D.P. Dough Franchising, LLC (“D.P....more

Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Food & Beverage Litigation Update | November 2017

NOSB Votes to Continue Allowing Hydroponics - The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has reportedly voted to continue allowing food grown in water-based nutrient solutions to be labeled “organic,” rejecting a...more

Snell & Wilmer

Intellectual Property Misconceptions Debunked

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Many people have misperceptions about what intellectual property (IP) protects, and some common IP misconceptions are debunked below. (1) Ideas Cannot Be Patented. Only inventions can be patented. The legal...more

Jones Day

Default Determination Highlights The Importance Of Alleging Every Element

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A recent ITC decision, stemming from a default initial determination, underscores the importance of alleging every element in a complaint. 19 U.S.C. § 1337(g)(l) provides that the Commission, when making a determination on...more

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