Patent Office (Again) Seeking Comments on AI Inventions By Kirk M. Hartung On Feb. 14, the United States Patent and Trademark Office published a notice in the Federal Register requesting comments by May 15 from stakeholders regarding the current state of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and inventorship issues. Acknowledging that AI is playing a greater role in the innovation process, the USPTO is seeking input for incentivizing […] Continue Reading →
Luddites, Lawyers, Illustrators: Embrace AI as a Tool By Cassie J. Edgar The Unhappy Painter, by Theodor Hosemann, 1843, illustrating a painter as a victim of technology, made obsolete by photography. Artificial intelligence (AI) is disruptive and will change the way we create and innovate – similar to disruption from the printing press, the camera, Photoshop, and gene editing. Use of any tool does not remove the […] Continue Reading →
How A.I. and Big Data Will (And Should) Change Your IP Strategy By Sarah M.D. Luth The last two decades have seen an increasing recognition of the value of patent rights. In many industries, ownership of a substantial number of patents is a clear sign of a company’s innovation capacity and leadership in the industry. Despite the growing interest in patent protection, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and […] Continue Reading →
National Science Foundation Announces $60 Million Investment in Developing and Strengthening Academic Institutional Infrastructure for Providing Industry-Driven Solutions By Gregory Lars Gunnerson The National Science Foundation’s new Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program is a game-changer for universities in the United States. The $60 million program will provide up to $6 million per award over four years to academic institutions to build capacity and infrastructure needed to strengthen and scale the translation of basic research outcomes into impactful […] Continue Reading →
AI and Copyrights: Getty Images Suit Brings Up Interesting Challenges to Current Copyright Law By Ashley E. Holland AI continues to be in the spotlight. In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence (AI) has increased rapidly and is affecting various industries, including the creative arts. As AI continues to change the way we create and consume content, it is important to consider the impact it has on copyrights. Copyrights are exclusive legal […] Continue Reading →
Beware of Spoofed Calls That Impersonate the USPTO By Scammers have recently started calling trademark customers and falsely claiming to be an employee with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The scammers use a tactic called “spoofing,” where they will trick phone networks into displaying a name, number, and location different from their actual name, number, and location. They’re trying to trick […] Continue Reading →
Celebrating George Washington Carver Day By Today has been designated as George Washington Carver Day in Iowa and what a fitting tribute to kick off Black History Month in February. Born into slavery in Missouri around 1864, Carver sought higher education in Iowa, at Simpson College and then Iowa State University. He was Iowa State’s first black student, earning both bachelor’s […] Continue Reading →
Use Matters: Radio Hosts’ Attempt to Prevent Commercialization of “White Lives Matter” Phrase Unlikely to Succeed By Nicholas J. Krob Late last year, news broke that ownership of the trademark for the phrase “White Lives Matter,” which has been categorized by the Anti-Defamation League as a “hate slogan,” was transferred to the hosts of an Arizona-based radio show focused on racial justice. These hosts—Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward—agreed to the transfer of the trademark in […] Continue Reading →
FDA’s New Pathway for CBD Products: What Businesses Need to Know By Cassie J. Edgar The CBD industry is buzzing with today’s news that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with Congress to develop a new regulatory framework for cannabidiol (CBD) products. This is great news for businesses developing CBD products, as it means that there will be a clear path forward for the lawful marketing of […] Continue Reading →
OMG Dolls v. OMG Girlz Ends in Mistrial By Julie L. Spieker On January 25, 2023, a trial between rapper T.I. and doll maker MGA Entertainment Inc. ended in a mistrial after the judge determined that improper testimony regarding cultural appropriation was “incurably prejudicial” to the jury. In December 2020, MGA Entertainment sued Clifford T.I. Harris, his wife Temeka “Tiny” Harris, and OMG Girlz seeking a Declaratory […] Continue Reading →