Can You Copyright or Trademark a Logo Designed by AI?
The legal world is buzzing about AI and its use for all kinds of things, including generating logos, text, and other things people would normally want to register for copyright or trademark protection. I’m particularly nerding out over these issues, because my master’s degree project involved training of artificial intelligence systems.
There’s no doubt AI is incredibly useful for things like this, though there is still no substitute for a real human author or artist. But what rights do you have to what it create for you? Keep in mind the generators are trained on existing material, including things that are protected by copyright, trademark registration, and patents. There haven’t been a lot of court decisions on this precise topic yet, so the law is not completely settled, but there are some certainties and principles of law that can guide you.
Brand Security: Exclusive Rights and Protection Provided by Trademark Registration
What is the difference in trademark rights provided by no registration, state registration, and federal registration? Learn why federal registration is essential for having the strongest trademark rights possible.
Trademark Tales of Terror: Evil Dead – Not Just a Reference to Failed Trademarks
In this episode, we’re going to plunge into the eerie and tumultuous world of trademark lawsuits surrounding the iconic “Evil Dead” film franchise. One of the things you have to do when you have a trademark is police it, which means that you have to take action to stop infringement by other parties. If you don’t, you can actually start to lose some of your rights.
Trademark Tales of Terror: Leatherface and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
In this episode, not for the faint of heart or stomach, we journey to the heart of Texas and confront Leatherface, the chainsaw wielding maniac from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”
In the backwoods of Texas, Leatherface donned a mask made of human flesh and wielded a chainsaw with gruesome intent. “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” franchise created a world of horrors with Leatherface as the embodiment of terror. His grotesque appearance and relentless pursuit of victims left an indelible mark on the horror genre. The film franchise has left an indelible mark in the USPTO trademark database.
Let the Leatherface and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” trademark application refusals rip through your memory to remind you of how ornamental use isn’t sufficient to show use of a name, logo, or slogan as a trademark. If it’s like putting someone else’s face on over your own, it’s ornamental.
Trademark Tales of Terror: The Masked Horror – Michael Myers
In this post for Trademark Tales of Terror, we peer into some enigmatic trademarks related to Michael Myers, the silent and relentless killer from the “Halloween” film franchise, and we look into the “Halloween” film franchise itself.
If you’re applying for registration or already have registered marks, make sure you are well informed by your attorney about the status of the application or registration. They should be keeping you advised of where the application is in the process and when the next deadlines are. After registration, your attorney may alert you about renewal dates, but you should keep track of these yourself as well, so you make sure that your marks don’t die from neglect. If properly managed, your trademarks can live almost indefinitely, just like Michael Myers.
Trademark Tales of Terror: “Friday the 13th” and the Trouble with Jason Voorhees
In this installment of Trademark Tales of Terror, “Friday the 13th” and the Trouble with Jason Voorhees, we embark on a journey to Camp Crystal Lake, a place cursed by the relentless presence of a silent hockey mask wearing killer, Jason Voorhees. Trademark and copyright troubles relentlessly follow Jason Voorhees like he follows unsuspecting campers, bikers, and pretty much anyone who crosses his path.
Trademark Tales of Terror: Freddy Krueger Stalks the Nightmares of Bootleg Merchandise Vendors
Welcome to the inaugural post of Trademark Tales of Terror. In this Halloween-season post we dive into the dark and chilling world of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Join me as we explore the trademark legacy of one of horror, cinema’s most iconic figures, Freddy Krueger.
Avoiding a Busted Brand: Preventing the Pain of Forced Rebranding through Trademark Registration
I talk about 5 painful problems that can happen for your business when you don’t take the correct steps to develop your brand, and how to avoid those problems or get started in handling them.
