On January 12, 2026, in Vetter v. Resnik (No. 25-30108), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“Fifth Circuit”) clarified the geographic scope of copyright recapture (termination of a prior assignment) and renewal rights under the Copyright Acts
intellectual property
Do We Have Bad Blood? Taylor Swift Successfully Opposes “SWIFT HOME” Trademark Application
When a home goods company tried to register “SWIFT HOME” for its pillows and sheets, Taylor Swift was not about to shake it off. The intense (albeit brief) trademark showdown between Swift and Cathay Home offers a front-row seat to…
Bye bye intrinsic test? Substantial similarity in Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg
On January 2, 2026, a Ninth Circuit panel affirmed the jury verdict in Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg, — F. 4th. —–, 2026 WL 17166 (9th Cir. Jan. 2, 2026), which found that defendant celebrity tattoo artist Katherine Von Drachenberg…
Keeping Hong Kong’s registered design system up to date with the modern world
Never Give Up: How SIDECAR SLIDER BAR Proves Persistence Pays Off in Trademark Prosecution
Bucking the trend of recent Section(d) refusal affirmances, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) delivered a surprising victory to the applicant in In re Restaurant Concept Management, LLC,[1] finding no likelihood of confusion between SIDECAR SLIDER BAR…
Intellectual property rights on insolvency: risks and remedies for a licensee
What are the principal areas of risk for a licensee of IP rights when the licensor enters into an insolvency process? What are the steps that a licensee may take to protect itself in potential future insolvency proceedings of its…
TTAB Draws the Line on “See Prior Arguments”
In a precedential opinion issued June 6, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (“USPTO”) Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) affirmed the refusal to register PRINCETON EQUITY GROUP as a trademark for “strategic financial advisory services; providing equity…
Future-proofing environmental claims: what you need to know now
Across the globe, businesses are keen to appeal to increasingly ethical consumers by promoting ambitious ESG initiatives. This has led to a flood of “green” claims – such as “sustainable”, “environmentally friendly” and “net carbon zero” – in almost every…
Reputation Reaches Across Borders: TTAB’s Ruling Charts New Course for Foreign Marks
The Board’s Decision
In a significant precedential ruling, Plumrose Holding Ltd. v. USA Ham LLC, No. 91272970, 2025 WL 248763, at *1 (Jan. 17, 2025), the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) has expanded protection for foreign trademark owners…
Keeping your business IP safe- Intellectual property in a disrupted employment environment
This article was co-authored by Bella Baker
We live in a disrupted world. One impact from this is a gig economy that increasingly favours contractors and freelancers, allowing for more flexible working arrangements. This has also led to the growing…