We are all familiar with these distinctive sounds and phrases:The whistled tune of “Sweet Georgia Brown”The Tarzan yell“You’ve got mail”“D’oh!”“Clap on, clap off, clap on clap off, the Clapper” These sounds...
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Rihanna wants Trump campaign to stop using her music
Recently, a participant at a Tennessee rally for President Trump tweeted that Rihanna’s music was playing at the event. When Rihanna saw this, she took action to protect her copyright to the song.The world of copyrighting music is complex, and this situation may...
Girl Scouts vs. Boy Scouts
The Girl Scouts of America have filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the Boy Scouts of America. The Girl Scouts of America (GSUSA) allege that there is brand confusion now that the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is admitting girls, which...
Schlafly family losses appeal over brewery trademark of surname
The family of conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly lost their appeal Monday to block the use of the Schlafly name by Saint Louis Brewery, LLC, which brews under the Schlafly name.Founded by Phyllis Schlafly's nephew Thomas Schlafly in 1989, Missouri's largest...
HBO and Trump enter the parody fray
President Trump will be remembered for many things, but his use of Twitter has been an effective and groundbreaking approach to connecting with constituents and the wider world. He recently took to Twitter to announce the imminent arrival of sanctions against Iran. He...
Court observations about copyright infringement in photography
At our law firm, we represent professional photographers in the protection of intellectual property rights in their creative works. Our advocacy includes asserting copyright protections when others infringe on copyrighted photos such as by reproducing them without...
Can Your Family Recipes Be Patented?
Who would have thought that recipe for Aunt Martha’s spaghetti sauce could be copyrighted or patented and turned into a moneymaker?That would be the case if former Microsoft Chief Technology Officer and culinary enthusiast Nathan Myhrvold has his way. To date,...
Hovey Williams involvement in Global Entrepreneurship Week
An important day for the Kansas City area is almost here. On Monday, Nov. 12, a major weeklong conference begins — dedicated to supporting and celebrating innovative people who launch startup businesses — Global Entrepreneurship Week. As a regional law firm dedicated...
Hovey Williams attorneys to speak at entrepreneurship conference
Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. That may be true in some situations, but if someone uses your idea, name or product without permission, it can threaten your livelihood. There are preventative measures for protecting intellectual property, and...
Do employees own their ideas?
Starting a new company with a great new idea can be exciting, but there needs to be some clear boundaries if the founder is jumping from a job as an employee in the same field. While the idea may be a good one with lots of promise, many employees sign Confidentiality...