Articles by Caroline Jamet
Caroline is an international JD student at American University Washington College of Law, class of 2012. She received a dual bachelor of Law in French and Common Law from the University of Nanterre, in Paris. She specialized in international Public Law as part of her French Bachelor of law, and is now specializing in Intellectual Property law as part of her French Master’s degree as well as her J.D. She spent the summer working as a legal intern with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and as a Dean’s Fellow at the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property (PIJIP). She is also a student Attorney in the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic for the year 2012-2013. Caroline is particularly interested in the constitutional issues raised by IP law, International IP law, and Copyright Law.
Universal Studios and Fifty Shades Ltd. sue Smash Pictures, a pornographic film production company who announced the release of Fifty Shades of Grey, a XXX Adaptation for January 10th 2012.
After a big win against Can’t Stop Production, Inc. that led Victor Willis (former frontman of the Village People) to grab back a 33 percent share of most of his hits from the 70’s, the singer’s attempt to cancel the “Village People” trademark failed last week when the Federal Circuit affirmed the TTAB’s decision to grant summary judgments to Can’t Stop Production on all claims.
After seven years of litigation, the Association of American Publishers announced on October 4th, 2012, that they had reached a settlement agreement that will provide access to publishers’ in-copyright books and journals digitized by Google for its Google Library Project.
“Ecce Homo” was given to the Santuario by Martinez, a local artist and professor at the School or Art of Zaragoza, about 120 years ago. A sweet old lady, parishioner Cecilia Gimenez – 81 years old – took it upon herself to restore the artwork, with devastating results. However, the work has become a tourist attraction and the “artist” is now claiming royalties from the work.
After months of litigation, Australia’s High Court finally rejected a challenge by tobacco companies who argued that the government’s new plain packaging legislation constituted an illegal seizure of their intellectual property. Such a decision is expected to have a domino effect and encourage other countries to adopt similar legislations.
Ed Kowalczyk, former lead singer of the band “Live”, is being sued by his former band members for trademark infringement. After officially leaving the band in 2009, Kowalczyk has kept using the name, touring as “Ed Kowalczyk from Live”. Action Front Unlimited, the company he created with the other Live members in 1989 is suing him in order to obtain an injunction to prevent him from using the name and to recover $2 million in damages.
The Navajo Nation brought suit against Urban Outfitters for trademark infringement under the federal Indian Arts and Crafts act. Urban Outfitters did not stop using the “Navajo” name after receiving a cease-and-desist letter last year. The brand uses the Navajo name and demonstrative patterns traditionally used by the Navajo Nation on alcohol flasks, underwear, jewelry, and bags.
As part of the fight against cigarette smoking and the effects it has on individuals, the Australian government recently passed a plain-packaging law requiring cigarette manufacturers to sell their products in standardized packaging, and preventing them from using their trademark and logos. Cigarette manufacturers are now suing the Government, claiming infringement on their trademarks.
