IPC Client-Funded Movie Unhinged to be Released as First Post-Pandemic Shutdown Summer Blockbuster6/17/2020
 IPC attorney, Richard Sahuc, performed work on Unhinged on behalf of client Ingenious Media, who provided funding for the Russell Crowe led road rage thriller filmed in and around New Orleans. Solstice Studios, who produced the film in partnership with Ingenious Media, originally scheduled the film’s release for September but moved the release date up in a gamble to make Unhinged the first "post-pandemic shut-down" blockbuster theatrical release on July 10 as theaters are expected to begin reopening across the country. You can view the trailer for the movie here.
Entertainment projects like film often involve multiple intellectual property concerns: trademarks, copyrights, licensing, publicity rights and, in today's world, internet and social media issues. IPC's experience in each of these fields provides the ability to direct our clients through the multi-faceted entertainment field. If you have a project in the entertainment industry and have questions regarding intellectual property concerns, call our professionals at 504-322-7166.  In a press release this week, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced their COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Program for certain trademark and service mark applications.
Under this new program, the USPTO will accept petitions to advance the initial examination of applications for marks used to identify qualifying COVID-19 medical products and services. Additionally, the USPTO will waive the fee for such petitions. “Inventors and entrepreneurs are working around the clock to develop products that will help prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure COVID-19,” said Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. “Accelerating initial examination of COVID-19-related trademark applications for these products, as well as service mark applications for medical and medical research services, will help to bring important and possibly life-saving treatments to market more quickly.” To qualify for the new program, the application must cover a product that is subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 or a medical or medical research service for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. See the notice for more information. At IPC, we are actively supporting inventors of products and services that will help prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19. If you have a question about trademark issues, give our professionals a call at (504) 322-7166.  IPC Patent Attorney, Stephen Kepper, successfully assisted Edge-Works Manufacturing Company in obtaining a patent (US Pat. No. 10,675,196) covering a quick release, back carry first aid medical kit.
The invention relates in general to portable first aid kits and, in particular to a low profile first aid kit that is adaptable for a quick release and can be easily stored and carried by a person. The innovative design of the pouch pillow release system allows for the kit to be released with one hand and mounted either vertically or horizontally to any carrier, plate or vest surface, especially the back. Placement on the back allows the user to take advantage of unused space and prioritize individual equipment layout. Additionally, a shoulder strap allows the first aid kit to be easily carried until it is remounted to the carrier or vest surface. An IPC client since 2013, Edge-Works is located in Burgaw, NC and is part of the tactical gear and tactical equipment industry. Edge-Works uses high-tech CAD/CAM processes to develop highly efficient and unique methods of manufacturing. These methods yield a high level of precision and repeatability in production with unique, patent pending features. If you have questions about patents, contact our professionals at (504) 322-7166 for more information on how IPC can help.  Christian Petersen/Getty Images NBA Legend and Charlotte Hornets principal owner, Michael Jordan won a lawsuit appeal against China's Qiaodan Sports, ending the eight-year legal dispute regarding the use of the Chinese translation of Jordan's last name, Qiao Dan.
Michael Jordan is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. He is known for his all-around great basketball ability including scoring, passing, and defense, winning 6 NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and having won the NBA Finals MVP each time. With this recent trademark lawsuit appeal ruling, the China Supreme Court held that Chinese companies cannot continue to use the Chinese translation of “Jordan” to market their products without compensation to Michael Jordan. 17 years after retiring from the NBA, Michael Jordan continues to own his competition and remains a global economic power. As evidenced in his current ESPN documentary, "The Last Dance," Michael Jordan's competitive nature and his refusal to lose against anyone in anything, anytime, anywhere has once again prevailed with this favorable ruling. If you have questions about intellectual property rights or trademark issues, contact our IPC professionals at (504) 322-7166 for more information on how we can help. IPC Files Patent Application for Sensiva Health's Proprietary Method of Testing COVID-19 Patients5/22/2020
 IPC has filed a patent application on behalf of client, Sensiva Health, covering a proprietary algorithm of testing COVID-19 patients using a combination of available diagnostics, public health data and eventual vaccination data to risk stratify individuals so they may return to the workforce and begin to interact normally with others while still minimizing the future impact of possible reinfection.
According to Jim Silliman, MD, President of Sensiva Health, "We developed our risk stratification method with the goal of enabling employers, local, and federal agencies to implement a testing plan to have citizens more safely return to work and community during the COVID-19 pandemic." IPC has sought expedited examination of the patent application for its client, and through Sensiva's affiliate Cormeum Lab Services, LL,C, has filed for Emergency Use Authorization through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At this time, Sensiva's COVID-19 PCR+Antigen/Antibody Test is only available through medical professionals. Read more here. IPC attorneys routinely assist clients with obtaining patents for their proprietary methods and inventions. If you are interested in learning more about patent protection, call our professionals at (504) 322-7126.  IPC recently obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of client Walter Williams of Dreamsite Productions, the creator and owner of the fictional character Mr. Bill in a recently filed federal lawsuit. The lawsuit, led by IPC attorney Richard Sahuc, asserted claims for copyright and trademark infringement against The Golf Channel and its parent, NBC Universal, based upon an unauthorized appearance made by Mr. Bill in an instructional video produced by The Golf Channel in which Mr. Bill’s head predictably doubled as a golf ball.
We're not the only ones who recognized the significance of the lawsuit. Mr. Bill's plight made local news in Walter William's hometown of New Orleans on WDSU, as well as national news on MSN.com. Intellectual property rights surrounding fictional characters can be complex. IPC has significant experience with intellectual property rights pertaining to fictional characters, having handled litigation involving Mr. Bill, the famous literary and film hero Zorro, and others. If you have questions about intellectual property rights involving fictional characters our professionals can help. Contact us at (504) 322-7166.  Escobar Inc., a general holding company organized to monetize the intellectual property rights related to Pablo Escobar and his family, has retained IPC to file a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada against its former employee and chief operating officer, Daniel Reitberg.
Pablo Escobar, "The King of Cocaine," was a Columbian drug lord who founded and led the Medellin Cartel, which monopolized the cocaine trade into the US in the 1980s and 1990s. Escobar is known to be the wealthiest criminal in history, having amassed an estimated net worth of $30 billion by the time of his death in 1993. Today, Escobar Inc. utilizes a YouTube channel to promote and sell various products to its followers and subscribers. As stated in the Complaint, Escobar Inc. alleges that Reitberg closed corporate bank accounts and deliberately hijacked the company’s YouTube account before abandoning his position with the company. The suit further states that after purposefully changing the designated password, preventing Escobar Inc. from accessing its own YouTube Channel, Reitberg is now using this information as ransom and as a means to extort significant sums of money from the holding company. As a result of Reitberg’s conduct, IPC Attorneys, Stephen Kepper and Adriano Pacifici, filed suit on behalf of Escobar Inc. against its former employee, seeking damages and injunctive relief under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and other state law claims. If you have questions about intellectual property rights, our team of professionals are here to help. Give us a call at 504-322-7166. |
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