Ideas Too Good to Patent
Tom Giesler’s new book depicts inventions the world might be able to do without but really shouldn’t have to.
Intellectual Property
Have You Ever Paid Royalties for Singing “Happy Birthday”?
At least if you paid them to Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., good news: you might be getting that money back. Of course, this is probably much better news for your lawyers, but still.
Spider-Man Clings to Wall of Supreme Court
On Monday, the Supreme Court held in Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment that a patent holder can't charge royalties for using an invention after the patent term expires. More accurately, it established that rule in a 1964 case, and held Monday…
Led Zeppelin Admits “Exceptional Talent,” Denies All Other Allegations
That really ought to be an affirmative defense.
Plaintiff: Disney Promised to Help Me Build an X-Wing. Court: No It Didn’t
Plaintiff’s complaint did everything but state a claim for relief, the judge decided.
NoYouCantWriteABriefLikeThisToGetAroundTheWordLimit
Appalling.
“Haulin’ Oats”? No Can Do
Or so say Hall & Oates, and the court will probably agree.
How Did That Taster’s Choice Case Turn Out?
I mentioned Christoff v. Nestlé the other day—you know, the case where the guy was surprised to see his face on the Taster's Choice coffee label and ended up getting $15 million for it—and someone wrote me to ask how…
U.S. Pat. No. 8605152: Method for Filming a Yoga Class
"The yoga community went into uproar," says the Electronic Frontier Foundation, after companies that offer online fitness classes got letters from a competitor, YogaGlo, saying that it had applied for a patent on the "method and technique" involved. The method and…
Guy Sues Legal System Again
Just the one in Illinois, at least for now. According to the Madison Record (thanks, Dave), Aaron Wemple has sued the Illinois State Bar Association and all of its members, alleging that … well, that it and they have done and/or are doing…