Rare Books and When the Copyright Public Domain Might Fail in its Essential Purpose

Submitted by editor on Mon, 16/07/2018 - 08:33

First, under the copyright system, the public interest is taken into account, e.g., with respect to the idea/expression divide, which preserves certain contents in the public domain a priori, and the duration limit for copyright protection, which contributes once-protected contents into the public domain. Underlying this is the centrality of copyright in contributing to knowledge by ultimately making all contents accessible in the public domain.

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How Can I Protect My Franchise’s Intellectual Property?

Submitted by editor on Mon, 16/07/2018 - 08:21

Every franchise relationship is built on the value of intellectual property (IP) assets. Franchisees purchase a licence to use a franchisor's IP, including trade marks, confidential know-how and in some cases, even processes and methods, because of the goodwill and reputation that your brand has accrued with consumers in your market. In a sense, this means that effective IP management improves the value of a franchise. Below,we outline the steps franchisors can take to protect their IP.

Catalogue your Intellectual Property

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How is Intellectual Property Valued When Selling a Business?

Submitted by editor on Mon, 16/07/2018 - 07:54

Intellectual property (IP) often represents one of the largest asset classes that a company holds, and unlocking its value is a key element in any business sale. The value of intellectual property such as patents, trademarks, brands, databases, and trade secrets, can be valued using a number of methodologies.

But what makes these intangible assets so valuable to a business?

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Developing the UAE's Legal Framework for Innovation

Submitted by editor on Tue, 10/07/2018 - 09:14

As the UAE economy diversifies away from oil and gas, innovation and entrepreneurship are high up on the government agenda. The UAE has had a national innovation strategy in place since 2014 and is going to great efforts to ensure the country is among the most innovative nations in the world.

Each government ministry has been mandated to allocate 1 per cent of their spending to innovation.

The UAE is fast emerging as a fintech hub. According to the Fintech Middle East 2017 report, the UAE hosts one-third of all fintech start-ups in the Middle East.

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A Costly Haircut

Submitted by editor on Tue, 10/07/2018 - 09:04

Lebron James and Nick Saban are well-known for dominance in their respective sports of basketball and college football. Recently they found themselves opposing each other in an intellectual property controversy. James’ Uninterrupted media company sent the University of Alabama a letter claiming Bama’s new barbershop themed show, “Shop Talk,” is infringing James’ similarly themed show, “The Shop.” The choice to send the demand letter has led to unintended, but foreseeable consequences for Uninterrupted.

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Judge Allows Zorro Copyright Claims to Move Forward Against Original Zorro Copyright Owner

Submitted by editor on Tue, 10/07/2018 - 08:53

On Friday, May 11th, U.S. District Judge Edward Davila entered an order deciding motions made in a copyright case involving competing musical productions based on the fictional story of the fictional folk hero Zorro. Judge Davila's orders allows copyright infringement claims asserted by a writer who developed a Zorro musical in the 1990s to move forward against Zorro Productions, the entity which had licensed the Zorro character to entertainment companies going back to the late 1940s. This case is in the Northern District of California.

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Curacao Celebrates 125 Years of Trademark History

Submitted by editor on Tue, 10/07/2018 - 08:35

The small island of Curacao lies some 65 kilometers north of the coast of Venezuela, has around 160,000 inhabitants, and boasts a sunny, warm climate all year round and some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet.

You may also have heard of its world-famous liquor, Blue Curacao, made from the dried peel of the Laraha citrus fruit, which grows on the island.

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Make-up: A Copyright Affair - Argentina Says YES!

Submitted by editor on Thu, 05/07/2018 - 10:03

Is make-up a painting?In the UK a make-up is not copyright protected. According to the Merchandising Corporation of America Inc. and Others v Harpbond Ltd and Others case, make-up does NOT fit into the dictionary as a painting and, painting: must be on a surface - "a face is NOT a surface". But these does not fit in our era anymore, does it? Is skin a surface? For example, exactly a year ago the BBC reported "The man who sold his back to an art dealer" - the man's back tattoo was designed by a famous artist and it was sold to a German art collector.

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Copyright and Fair Use in the Age of YouTube

Submitted by editor on Thu, 05/07/2018 - 09:02

Teenagers no longer want to be Hollywood stars. They want their own YouTube channels instead. However, in the quest for likes, subscribers, and virality, the benefits and pitfalls of the intellectual property generated (and sometimes borrowed) are often left in the dust. While many YouTubers do create their own original content, some rely on the content of others for inspiration-e.g. for reviewing, lampooning, or just for context.

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Graffiti: Copyrightable Art, Illegal Activity, or Both?

Submitted by editor on Thu, 05/07/2018 - 08:21

Graffiti on buildings, in alleys, and on trains -sometimes signed, sometimes anonymous, and usually unwanted by the property owner. However, often these creations are both beautiful and edgy. A perfect match for marketing clothing whose image so desperately wants to align! Many brands attract customers based on advertising themselves as street-savvy and edgy. And, while many graffiti artists often do not seek attribution, for obvious legal reasons, that does not necessarily mean that their artwork is free to use by others.

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