Posts Tagged: "Merchandising"

MLBPA Files Opposition at TTAB over ‘Here Comes the Judge’ Trademark Application

On March 21st, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) filed a formal notice of opposition at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) to challenge a federal trademark application filed by Michael P. Chisena of Garden City, NY. The trademark application, U.S. Trademark Application No. 87528440, seeks to protect the use of the standard character mark “HERE COMES THE JUDGE” in commerce on clothing including T-shirts, jerseys, athletic uniforms and caps.

Steve Brachmann

May 12, 2018

How do Estates Monetize Images and Intellectual Property of Dead Celebrities?

With the deaths of Prince and David Bowie earlier in the year, the process by which celebrity estates monetize the images and other intellectual property (IP) of the dearly departed has come into greater focus. How will they handle the onslaught of business from rights to their images and other non-musical IP? Unlike recordings and music publishing, which are covered by national law, individual states determine rights of publicity. Specifically, copyrights are federal and can be inherited by heirs such as in the Marvin Gaye case.

Derek Handova

August 10, 2016