Because The Tragically Hip long ago secured its place among Canada’s musical legends, the band has a legacy to protect. It appears that that is exactly what the group originally from Kingston, Ontario, is trying to do with its lawsuit alleging trademark infringement...
Name game: the intersection of craft brewing and IP
In the 1950s, artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard fused blues, gospel and country music to create a raw new form of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Kindred spirits of rebellion and innovation are evident in the craft breweries that are taking on an alcohol...
What is fair use?
As you conduct business, you must pay attention to the trade secrets that set your business products and services apart from those of competitors in the marketplace. You may be on either side of a potential controversy over intellectual property such as the following:...
Adidas loses trademark fight with Belgian shoe company
German sportswear company Adidas lost another trademark battle. According to a recent report, an EU court labeled its three-stripe design as "not distinct enough." This comes after a long-running legal dispute between Adidas and Belgian sportswear company, Shoe...
How new businesses fail to protect their IP
Your intellectual property (IP) lies at the heart of your new business. Without it, your business won’t stand out in the market and you will have nothing to differentiate yourself from your competitors. With IP so vitally important, why do so many new businesses fail...
Can someone use my trademark in a domain name?
Internet domain names are at the center of many legal battles. Fully understanding how someone can use a trademark as or part of a domain name is imperative for anyone running a business with a webpage. A trademark is any word, name, symbol, or combination of those...
Software company fights back against patent troll
Much has been written in recent years about a legal tactic known as patent trolling, which is the practice of acquiring patents for the sole purpose of pursuing litigation. The defendants in lawsuits filed by patent trolls usually settle quickly to avoid the costs of...
Minimizing the impact of a business dispute on your company
Learning of a business dispute that is happening in your company can be highly disconcerting. Depending on the severity of the dispute, who it involves and what it is about, such disagreements can have a debilitating effect on organizational processes that ultimately...
How not to accidentally invite intellectual property litigation
The common advice for companies that want to avoid intellectual property litigation is simply not to steal or appropriate another entity’s IP. However, there is one major problem with this advice; it is one-sided. What happens when the business owner is the one...
Addressing unfair competition
In the business world, dealing with competition is part of life. However, there are times when competition is not only challenging but unfair and illegal as well. If your business is struggling with unfair competition, it is pivotal for you to explore any legal...
