By: Widerman Malek Team Is a “trade name” the same thing as a “trademark?” This is a topic that seems to give people trouble. The Lanham Act offers some help to distinguish the terms. By definition, a “trade name” is any name used by a person to identify his or her business or vocation. […]
In 1959, Volvo came out with the three-point seat belt, a seat belt designed by Swedish Engineer Nils Bohlin. Bohlin wanted to design a seat belt that could prevent whiplash and deaths. His design is considered an industrial design which was patented as such in 1962. Seven years later Volvo decided to offer Bohlin’s seat […]
By: Mark R. Malek My last article provided a brief overview of the patent system. I also wrote another article about why patents are somewhat important. This prompted me to reflect on my typical conversations with potential clients, and the questions that generally arise as to the different types of patents. This article will attempt to […]
We know the holiday season is over but we just couldn’t help but pass this one along regarding a holiday T.V. classic. It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring because we were all intently watching the Warner Bros’ 1983 movie, A Christmas Story, on the television. […]
For songwriters, one of the greatest perks of copyrighting their work is the continuous flow of royalty checks. If Merv Griffin were still alive today he could attest to that. Merv Griffin wrote the recognizable music called “Think” which aired five days a week on the game show Jeopardy during the final jeopardy question. The […]
Traditionally, trade dress was limited to the overall appearance of labels, wrappers, and containers used in packaging a product. However, over a period of years, the traditional definition expanded beyond packages and containers to include the total look of a product. Today, the total look includes the packaging, as well as the design, shape, size, […]
Over the past summer Google+ has made a big deal about allowing select members to use vanity URLs. Google stated, “At first, we’re introducing custom URLs to a limited number of verified profiles and pages. But over time we plan to offer custom URLs to many more brands and individuals, so please stay tuned!” Ok, […]
As a native New Englander, I have been known to say the phrase “wicked awesome” repeatedly when describing an enjoyable moment. This phrase is quite commonly used by New Englanders so it is not very original. However, if I was a professional athlete I may wish to trademark this catchphrase. As a famous athlete, this […]
