By The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. Halloween 2016 is sure to bring some of the most entertaining pop culture costumes like the characters from Suicide Squad. These characters belong to DC Comics and costume companies that create and sell these type of costumes for profit must license out the intellectual property for each costume design from its respective owner. Then there are those costumes of real people like the presidential candidates, Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, and Kim Kardashian West. Whether you exercise the right or not, everyone has the right to control their name and likeness for [...]

On behalf of The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Monday, August 17, 2015. When selecting the name for your new foodtruck, or for any good or service, you need to carefully consider your options. It is important to make sure that your proposed name would not fall under the "generic" or "merely descriptive" categories, thereby eliminating or hurting your chances of obtaining a trademark registration (and making it easier for the competition to 'steal' your brand). When considering a name for your foodtruck, you want to make sure it isn't generic, descriptive, or deceptively misdescriptive. For example, MEXICAN FOOD TRUCK is generic for [...]

On behalf of The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Monday, August 17, 2015. Crowdfunding is a new way to help turn ideas into reality. Instead of going the traditional route of using your own money, borrowing from family or friends, taking out a bank or small business loan, or seeking investors through venture capital groups, an entrepreneur can create a page on one of the many popular crowdfunding platforms and bring interested potential investors to him/her. One of the perks of going the crowdfunding route is that your "investors" (the businesses and/or individuals who donate to your campaign) are not considered [...]

On behalf of The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Monday, August 17, 2015. Fashion is big business and, with good reason, clothing designers and companies are always looking for ways to protect their designs and collections. So how can a designer or company prevent others from stealing their designs? One way to protect your fashion brand is by utilizing copyright protection. A copyright is automatically fixed upon completion of a work. But by filing for a copyright registration with the US Copyright Office, a fashion designer can gain additional protections and abilities. It is important to note that a copyright won't [...]

On behalf of The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Tuesday, July 21, 2015. Idea theft is a real threat that one often sees in the tech industry. A theft scenario may involve an entrepreneur pitching an idea to a prospective partner, intending to work together to create the next big social network or cellphone app. However, instead of working with you, the person you pitched may 'steal' your idea (without paying you for it) and bring it to another team to develop as their own concept. Of course, if confronted, that person will claim the idea is different or argue the [...]

On behalf of The Myers Law Group posted in Intellectual Property on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Internet radio services continue to offer new lessons with respect to licensing songs for public performance. The latest lesson: Radio services should not simply follow the customs of the industry, because those customs may be contrary to law. Recently, a California district court granted a motion for class certification in a lawsuit against satellite and internet radio service Sirius XM Radio. The lawsuit will now cover anyone with a pre-1972 sound recording that was played on Sirius XM's service on or after August 21, 2009 without authorization. The [...]