Blockbuster is Closing – Trademark Implications? Way back in the summer of 1994, I worked at a Blockbuster video store. It was one of the highlights of my distinguished career in show business (I’m sure my Lifetime Achievement Oscar is right around the corner). So it hit me just a bit harder than I would have expected when I read the news that Blockbuster is finally shutting its video stores. What are the trademark implications of a move like this?
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Archives: Entertainment Law
Announcing Of Counsel Relationship with David Branfman, Esq.
October 30, 2013
I’m excited to announce a big development for my firm: I’ve entered into an “Of Counsel” relationship with Branfman Law Group, P.C. David Branfman is a highly regarded attorney with experience in the fields of intellectual property, entertainment law, and business law. David and I have known each other for several years and have worked on a variety of projects together. This step will allow us to offer a greater array of services to our clients and to bring our firms closer together. An “Of Counsel” relationship between attorneys and firms is one that is close, continuing, and personal, and…
Black Flag and the Punk Rock Trademark Showdown
October 15, 2013
Black Flag and the Punk Rock Trademark Showdown Black Flag is one of the most well-known bands in the history of punk rock. Formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California, they toured and recorded relentlessly through 1986. Recently, two versions of the band (one called Black Flag, one called Flag) have been touring and have engaged in a legal battle over the rights to the band’s name and their famous logo (featured at left). A look at this dispute reveals an extensive list of trademark and music law questions.
Tattoo Copyright Update
October 8, 2013
Tattoo Copyright Update Last year, I wrote a blog post titled “Can Tattoos Be Copyrighted?” The issue arose due to a lawsuit between Warner Brothers, the distributors of The Hangover Part II, and S. Victor Whitmill, the artist who created Mike Tyson’s famous facial tattoo. In the movie, Ed Helms’ character wakes up with an identical tattoo. The lawsuit was eventually settled, of course, and the terms of the settlement were not disclosed, of course. But the case brought the issue of tattoo copyrights to the public consciousness. The issue continues to develop, so I felt it was time to…
