Tag archives: licensing

Maximise your IP to enhance franchise value

Franchising is, in essence, a business model built on intellectual property (IP) – it provides a useful forum for commercialising IP.  Franchisors gain by sharing use of their IP (including trade marks, patents, designs, copyright materials, know-how and/or confidential information) in return for a fee, and franchisees benefit by obtaining the benefit of an established … Continue reading

Beware the ghost of handshakes past – Could your IP licence survive termination?

What happens when an IP licence agreement is terminated? The obvious answer would of course be that the licence terminates too.  However, as the latest instalment in an ongoing saga involving the well-known PINK LADY brand of apples reminds us, imprecisely drafted licence agreements may come back to haunt unsuspecting licensors. How do you like … Continue reading

“Sue me already” – Analyzing Kanye’s (In)Famous Video (Part III)

Over the past week, the Brand Protection Blog has reviewed the different legal claims unwitting stars of Kanye West’s “Famous” video might assert the rap artist. In Part I, we analyzed claims for Trademark Infringement. In Part II, we took a look at claims for False Endorsement. Today, we consider whether the “Famous” video violates celebrities’ rights … Continue reading

Fifth Circuit Cites Laches as Properly Barring Recovery of Monetary Damages in Trademark Infringement Suit

Last Thursday, a panel of the Fifth Circuit affirmed a ruling from the Northern District of Texas partially enjoining a Texas company’s sale of ceremonial paddles decorated with the unlicensed insignia of 32 fraternities and sororities. In the lower court, a jury found the college organizations were lax in seeking to enforce their trademark rights … Continue reading

Creative Commons License 4.0 comment period expires September 2012

Creative Commons, a “global nonprofit organization dedicated to the sharing and reusing of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools,” has published the second draft of its Creative Commons licenses (the “CC Suite”), dubbed “4.0.” The CC Suite is a set of free copyright licenses granting permission to licensees to use and adapt content, including … Continue reading
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