New Jersey residents are most likely aware that the smartphone market is highly competitive and driven by innovation. Electronics companies tend to be fiercely protective of features that separate their products from those of their competitors, and intellectual property disputes are not uncommon when a new phone or device uses a feature that is suspiciously similar to one protected under the nation's patent laws.
Trademark case strikes down language restrictions
Trademark hopefuls in New Jersey may be interested in a trademark case decided in December 2017 that struck down some restrictions on obscene or offensive speech used in trademarks. The case played out as a contest between First Amendment rights and the obligation the government has to protect the population from offensive speech. In this instance, the First Amendment seems to have won the day.
Deciding between state and federal trademarks
Business owners in New Jersey can create a trademark for their business regardless of the size of their enterprise. Trademarks can be used to protect the logo, name or slogan of businesses. However, business owners should know what type trademark they can have and how to register it.
Redbox and Disney tangle over digital download codes
Redbox is often the go-to solution for quick movie rentals in New Jersey, but Disney is now claiming that Redbox is pulling a fast one. Disney has accused Redbox of what amounts to illegal sales of its digital content. Attorneys for Disney say that Redbox is opening combo packs that contain a DVD, Blu-Ray and code for a digital copy of some films and then selling the digital redemption codes.
Intellectual property law takes center stage in 'Frozen" case
Although Disney's 'Frozen" came out in 2013, a 2017 court case may have some people in California feeling a bit frigid. In the movie, the song 'Let It Go" became a breakout hit and was lauded by critics. Unfortunately, a musician who believes that 'Let It Go" is too similar to his own 2008 song, 'Volar", is suing Disney and the two singers who performed 'Let It Go" for both the movie and radio versions.
