Boing Boing reports that a Dutch musician is claiming somebody has pirated the anthem he wrote for an anti-piracy video by also using it in DVDs, which he says he didn't authorize and hasn't been paid for. Melchior Rietveldt, who should…
As I reported previously, Kellogg North America sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Maya Archaeology Initiative in July, complaining that the non-profit group was using a toucan on its logo that some might confuse with Kellogg's "Toucan Sam." MAI's lawyer responded that…
A court in London has issued an injunction against the Moshi Monsters website and its parent company, Mind Candy, which prevents defendants from releasing a single purporting to be performed by Lady Goo Goo, a cartoon character that some seem…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Hooters of America, which you will not be surprised to learn is the operator and franchisor of Hooters restaurants, has sued a former vice-president and his new company for allegedly stealing Hooters' trade secrets. The…
"The following is not a joke patent," says the priority claim of U.S. Patent No. 8,011,991 B2. "Its [sic] completely serious and is a serious undertaking to obtain a patent." That may be (and it was successful), but it's also…
The body hair and feet drying chair has a base portion having a generally hollow interior, there being a motor-driven fan contained within the hollow interior. A seat is disposed on the top of the base portion. … A plurality…
The Maya Archaeology Initiative is fighting back against claims by Kellogg North America that a bird depicted in MAI's logo is too similar to "Toucan Sam," the fictional spokesbird for Froot Loops cereal. MAI, a non-profit that supports education for…
Thanks for your responses to my question about who if anyone owns the legal rights to a monkey photographer's work. The responses varied, although none were too favorable to the monkey. Here are some thoughts, with the disclaimer that I'm…
When I wrote last week about the legal issues raised by picture-taking monkeys, I was about to email the agency that appeared to be claiming rights in those photos to ask for comment, but held off because I suspected its…
Here's an excellent question (via the Legal Satyricon): if a monkey steals your camera and takes a bunch of pictures with it, who (if anyone) owns the rights to the pictures? After three days of hanging out with some crested…