Many people are surprised how often right of publicity issues arise. They think that the right of publicity only applies to celebrities, and perhaps only to a photograph of a celebrity, and thus if a celebrity’s image is not used, there is no right of publicity issue. Or perhaps they believe that if the use…
Creative services providers, like branding, naming, graphic design, and packaging design agencies (to name a few) are commonly engaged by consumer products companies to create new brands, logos, product names, package designs, and a wide range of materials to be used in the marketing and sale of their products to the public. While there are…
Under United States Copyright law, the general rule is that the person who actually creates a copyrightable work is the legal author or creator and, therefore, owner of the copyright in that work. The doctrine of work for hire (often shortened to the acronym WFH) is an exception to that general assumption. If a work…
On June 21, 2021, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in National Collegiate Athletic Association v. Alston, et al. While the decision in NCAA v. Alston is narrow and, by itself, only a small victory for college athletes, it represents another significant blow to the NCAA’s outdated concept of amateurism and another step…
As Published in The Marin Lawyer, An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association © Elizabeth J. Rest 2015 In this age of digital downloads and streaming music we often hear musicians lament that they simply are not making enough money. Gone are the days of traditional record deals including substantial advances, cushy tour…
As Published in The Marin Lawyer, An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association © Elizabeth J. Rest 2014 Even those without a passing familiarity of intellectual property law generally understand that if an author writes a book, a playwright composes a play, or a screenwriter pens a movie script, then that individual owns…
As Published in The Marin Lawyer, An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association© Elizabeth J. Rest 2013 Congratulations! You navigated the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and have successfully obtained a federal trademark registration for your client’s name or logo. Now, your client owns that name or logo, and whenever someone else…
As Published in The Marin Lawyer, An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association © Elizabeth J. Rest 2012 With election season in full swing, candidates are increasingly attempting to connect with the public using cultural mediums, such as popular music. However, even with the teams of lawyers protecting them, politicians are repeatedly confronted…
As Published in The Marin Lawyer, An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association© Elizabeth J. Rest 2011 When starting a new business, a new subsidiary of an established business, or even a new product line, choosing the name is a fundamentally difficult and important task. The name should be something catchy that people will…
Lost in Translation: A Critical Examination of Conflicting Decisions Applying the Doctrine of Foreign Equivalent, 96 Trademark Rep. 1211Want to protect and use a trademark that includes a word or phrase from a foreign language? Contact us to discuss.
At Crown®, LLP we believe that creativity is developing products, brands, music, and art that is informing and entertaining. Our clients work in all kinds of industries, from tea to t-shirts, beer to Broadway, and all the creative in between.
(415) 932-6557
(415) 932-6557