What happens when the unstoppable force of an internet meme meets the immovable object of a celebrity’s lawyers? We could find out…
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Twitter and Etsy get high marks in report card on copyright and free speech
When it comes to balancing creative rights on the internet, companies like Twitter and Pinterest play an important role as middlemen. How are they performing?…
Read MoreApple denied Siri trademark for “social networking services,” files appeal
Apple tried to get trademark protection for its personal assistant Siri as a "social network," but the Trademark Office turned down the application.…
Read MoreTwitpic is shutting down after Twitter threatened to block access to its API
Twitter says it's "sad" after its trademark battle forced Twitpic to shut down.…
Read MoreTesla faces new trademark troubles in China
A Chinese man who owns trademarks and a domain name for Tesla in China is suing to shut down the company across the country unless it pays him. Given China's unpredictable IP system, anything could happen.…
Read MoreCan you trademark an internet meme?
A company's application to trademark the word "Doge" has the meme's fandom rushing to its defense.…
Read MoreWhen can you tweet a celebrity photo? Actress Heigl sues drugstore over Twitter pic
A drugstore's decision to tweet a photo of a famous actress leaving its store raises the question of where to draw the line between news and endorsement rights.…
Read MorePinterest wins $7.2M in damages from “Pimterest” cybersquatter
The social media company has won a suit against a serial cybersquatter that registered domains for over 100 variations and misspellings of "Pinterest."…
Read MoreReport: Bang With Friends to be “The Next Bang” under legal deal with Zynga
The sexting app Bang With Friends is expected to change its name soon in response to a trademark lawsuit with Zynga.…
Read MorePinterest chases away Sprint, others from “pin” trademarks — “Pindle” out of luck
Pinterest is becoming a big brand -- and, as big brands do, it's taking legal action to drive away other companies with "pin" in their names.…
Read MoreCan phone companies own colors? New tussles over “magenta,” and “champagne” for Apple
Smartphone makers like Apple want to stand out with distinctive colors -- but trademark laws are leading to lawsuit threats by companies that say they own exclusive rights in certain shades.…
Read MoreZynga sues sex app over “with friends” name — but it will have to get lucky to win
Struggling game maker Zynga has filed a lawsuit against Bang With Friends over its use of "with friends." Under the rules of trademark law, the case looks like a longshot.…
Read MoreApple’s quest for the iWatch trademark expands
In addition to Russia and Japan, 9to5Mac found applications for hardware and software under the name iWatch in Colombia, Mexico, Taiwan and Turkey.…
Read MoreApple files trademark on iWatch as wearable devices race heats up
While rumors of Apple looking into this category have circulated for a while, no really serious competitor had emerged with a superior, category-defining device. But that's changing.…
Read MoreApple wins trademark case over ‘iBooks’
Apple has won one of its many lawsuits involving "i" products -- a federal judge threw out a case in which a New York publisher claimed that it, not Apple, has the rights to use "iBooks."…
Read MoreGrumpy Cat shows claws, vows to sue infringers
Grumpy Cat is the latest internet meme whose fame is growing by the day. The feline's fame is valuable and her owners and lawyers have filed trademarks to protect it.…
Read MoreAuthors and publishers objects to Amazon’s “.book” and “.read” names; future process unclear
A flood of new website addresses with endings like ".book" and ".movie" are set to arrive in coming months. Companies like Amazon and Google are set to control the names but the terms under which they will do so are still undefined.…
Read MoreApple appeals iPhone exclusive trademark loss in Brazil
Are we in for a rerun of last year's iPad trademark episode in China? It's certainly shaping up that way.…
Read MoreReport: Apple loses exclusive iPhone trademark in Brazil
A Brazilian company that registered the trademark in 2000 is also allowed to legally use the iPhone name in Brazil, according to a ruling reported Wednesday.…
Read MoreFeds scoop up 132 websites in annual Cyber Monday ritual
The Monday after Thanksgiving means online discounts for many people. To the federal government, it is a day to parade captured websites.…
Read MoreVillage Voice sues Yelp for using “Best of”
The publisher of one-time counter-culture icon The Village Voice is expanding its legal campaign to own the phrase "best of." Popular user review site Yelp is its latest target.…
Read MoreChicago cab companies sue ‘hip’ car service Uber for pocketing 50% of driver tips
Popular new car service Uber is in a fight with taxi lobbies in cities across the country. Cab companies hit Uber hard in Chicago this week with a lawsuit that claims it is deceiving customers.…
Read MorePinterest fights Chinese cyber-squatter
Cyber-squatting has been around for years but one Chinese man has especially aggressive in grabbing the names of popular US start-ups like Square and Etsy. More troubling for the companies, the man is also filing for trademarks.…
Read MoreAereo’s Barry Diller sues to squash copycat BarryDriller
Aereo, a technology that uses tiny antennas to let people watch TV on the go, has already generated a flurry of lawsuits. Now the man behind Aereo is suing a copycat service for using his name. The disputes highlight disruptions to the traditional TV industry.…
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