Feeling Bluey… Robert Irwin, Pauline Hanson, and Fred again..: an overview of use of likeness

27 February 2025
Last year Pauline Hanson delivered the much anticipated sequel to her satirical cartoon of Australian icons, Bluey and Robert Irwin. Irwin reportedly threatened to sue Hanson for defamation for the first instalment, but regardless of the outcome – it’s a reminder to carefully consider the risks of using a person’s likeness without their consent. This post explores use of likeness (and its relation to publicity rights) and its risks in Australia.
Read on

Eat your own words: Caporaso loses trade mark battle against Italian food hall Mercato Centrale

13 February 2025
The decision of Caporaso Pty Ltd v Mercato Centrale Australia Pty Ltd [2024] FCAFC 156 demonstrates how important it is not to embellish the degree of use of a trade mark, as failure to do so could render the mark vulnerable to cancellation. It also provides useful reminders on why it is so important to consider trade marks a whole when registering a trade mark and how it could impact any potential trade mark infringement disputes in the future, as well as how the Federal Court treats non-English words used in trade marks.
Read on

‘Have you any dreams you’d like to sell?’ Fleetwood Mac producer in copyright tiff with Broadway playwright

28 November 2024
Last month, Ken Caillat, author of the memoir Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album (Making Rumours) and producer of the album itself, commenced copyright infringement proceedings together with his co-author Steven Stiefel against the creators of the Broadway play Stereophonic in the United States District Court in New York.
Read on
Load More Posts