intellectual property issues with online content

Intellectual Property

Issues with online content

About Your Speaker

Andrew L. Eisenberg

- IP Attorney - Lee & Hayes, PLLC- General Counsel – Audiotoniq, Inc. - Associate – L.C. Begin and Associates - Dell, Inc.

- University of Michigan – B.S.E - University of Notre Dame – J.D.

- Copyrights – Creative

- Trademarks – Identifiers

- Patents – Inventive

- Data/Information – Not protected in the USA

Intellectual Property 

- Instantaneous and Automatic

- Creative Expression v. Factual Content and Ideas

- Term 150 or Life + 75 - Registration (copyright.gov)

- Statutory Damages

Copyright – Basics  

Copyright – Ownership 

- Original Author

- License/Copyright Release - In writing and signed

- Works Made for Hire- Employment- Specially Made (Contactor)

- Guest Authors/Experts

- Copying

- Distributing - Reproduction/Performance

- Re-transmission

- Display

- Derivative Works

Copyright – Infringement 

- Attribution

- Fair Use and Freedom of Speech

Copyright – Exceptions 

- Criticism / Parody

- Education

- News Reporting

Copyright – Online 

- Digital Media Copyright Act (DMCA)

- Temporary Copies (Browser Cache)

– Identifier in Commerce

– Characters, Symbols, Words, Phrases, Slogans, Images, Design Elements, Sounds, Scents, Shapes

– Term 10 years but renewable

- May be Common Law, State, or Federal Mark

Trademark – Basics  

– Trademark

– Service Mark

– Registered Mark  

Trademark – Types  

TM

SM

®

- Trademark Search - (USPTO.gov)- Google

- Domain Name

- Form the Entity - (Corporation, LLC, Partnership, …)

- Graphic Designs

Trademark - Before Filing 

- Word Mark

- Stylized Design

- Trade Dress 

Trademark – Categories  

- Intent to Use or Use

- Description of the Mark

- Classification (45 IC)- 1-34 Goods

- 35-45 Services

- Description of Goods - Specimen(s)

Your Application 

Use – Timing  

- Day 1 - File Use Application

- 4-8 Months - Rejection or Allowance- 3-6 Months Per Rejection

- 1 Month- Publication in Official Gazette

- 30 Day - Opposition Period

- 1 Month - Issuance

Intent to Use – Timing  

- Day 1 - File Intent to Use Application

- 6 Months - File Statement of Use

- (e.g., Specimens) - File Extension

- 5 Available- 6 Months Each

- Continued Use- Between 5th and 6th

- Section 9 Renewal (Every 10 Years)- Continued Use- Fee

- Duty to Enforce/Generic Mark

- Confusingly Similar

Maintaining the Mark 

- You may use a trademark to:- refer to the owner of the mark- identify goods/services related to the mark

- You may not use a trademark to:- confuse to a consumer- pass off goods/services- harm the brand related to the mark

Trademark – Usage 

Trademark Examples

- New, Inventive, and Useful

- Term 20 years from filing (+/-) - Must File with the USPTO

- Given in Exchange for Disclosure  

Patent – Basics  

Negative Rights  

Stool

Chair

Patent – Types  

- Provisional

- Utility

- Design  

- Place Holder - Temporary - Unpublished 

Provisional  

- Specification

- Drawings

- Claims  

Parts 

Timing  

- Day 1 - File Provisional Application

- 12 Months - File Nonprovisional Application

- 18 Months- Publication

- 3-6 Months- Office Action (3-12 Months Per Action)

- Related to online shopping cart

- $600k to get dismissed on summery judgment

- Most licenses are offered at $100k

Patent – Online Infringement 

Questions?

Andrew Eisenberg 512.456.5140 | andrew@leehayes.com13809 Research Boulevard, Suite 405 | Austin, Texas 78750