Katie Dillon
Storm in a Coffee Cup – Starbucks v “Charbucks”
19 December 2013
The US Court of Appeals has recently upheld a decision that the use of “Charbucks” in relation to coffee did not violate Starbucks’ registered trade marks.
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Tom Cruise proves Risky Business for gossip mags
20 November 2013
In late 2012, Life & Style and In Touch magazines published headlines indicating Tom Cruise had abandoned his daughter Suri. Most people might dismiss such articles as minority reports. However, Cruise has filed a Complaint in the District Court of California for defamation and invasion of privacy. He’s asking that the publisher of the magazines show him the money, to the tune of over US$50 million. Whether or not this is mission impossible for Cruise remains to be seen, but the case is attracting significant media attention due to an emerging discovery battle between the parties.
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‘Mickey Mouse’ horror film escapes trade mark litigation
10 October 2013
Escape from Tomorrow has Disney characters behaving badly and a bloody Mickey Mouse-esque hand on the poster. Copyright or trade mark litigation anyone?
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Sexy but too similar? App developers “Bang-ed” up over trade mark dispute
20 August 2013
What happens when you take three College aged guys, a few hours of spare time, Red Bull, vodka, and a smartphone? Why, a new “casual sex matchmaking app” called “Bang With Friends”! Unfortunately for our anonymous trio (yes, despite the “honesty” of the app they refuse to reveal their identities) the hangover may last a while. In late July 2013, Zynga, makers of apps like “Words With Friends” and the owners of the registered trade mark “WITH FRIENDS”, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court claiming “Bang With Friends” are “free riding on recognized and valuable intellectual property rights”.
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