IPC Attorney Leads CLE Workshop on Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” Copyright Infringement Ruling1/16/2020
 This past summer, a jury decided that Katy Perry’s chart-topping song, “Dark Horse,” had infringed upon the copyright of a rap track titled, “Joyful Noise,” a song that had been previously released by rapper, Flame. Mark Melasky, legal consultant with IPC, recently led a CLE workshop for the Solo and Small Firm Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association on the subject, “The Dark Horse of Copyright Infringement: Did the Court Get it Right with Katy Perry’s Lawsuit?”
Melasky co-presented with Abid Hussain, attorney at Hussain Law LLC and adjunct professor of digital music production at University of New Orleans. After the “Blurred Lines” ruling in favor of Marvin Gaye’s estate, the ruling in the Katy Perry case shows the ongoing trend of relaxing a plaintiff’s burden for proving originality in infringement cases. If you have an issue related to copyright infringement, contact our legal professionals.
Congratulations to our client, Tulane University, for scoring in multiple Top 20 rankings in the annual "College Rankings" lists just released by The Princeton Review!
#1 Most Engaged in Community Service #2 Their Students Love These Colleges #3 College City Gets High Marks #4 Happiest Students #6 Best Quality of Life #9 Best-Run Colleges #13 Impact Schools “Tulane University, located in the heart of New Orleans, is an institution where 'academics are rigorous,'" according to The Princeton Review, and which "encourages exploration, trying new things … and learning from people who are different from you.” Read more about the "College Rankings" here. IPC's client, Edge-Works, was recently sued again by HSG, LLC (“High Speed Gear”) in the Eastern District of North Carolina where HSG brought federal false advertising claims against Edge-Works, alleging Edge-Works falsely advertised the material used in its Softshell Scorpion magazine carriers. Without having to conduct any discovery, Edge-Works successfully dismissed all of HSG’s claims at the earliest stages of litigation on the basis that HSG’s claims were barred by Res Judicata.
 The Patent Pro Bono Program is a nationwide network of independent regional programs that match volunteer patent professionals, like our own Mark Melasky, with financially under-resourced inventors and small businesses for the purpose of securing patent protection. Registered patent practitioners like Melasky are critical to the success of the Patent Pro Bono Program.
Melasky was invited to attend the recent Patent Pro Bono Program Conference hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as part of his role as Steering Committee Chair for the Louisiana Program. He will play a key part in helping The Ella Project, a Louisiana program providing pro bono legal assistance, arts business services and advocacy to the local cultural community, in launching and administering the Louisiana Patent Pro Bono Program. Melasky was joined at the conference by administrators from other regional programs across the nation at USPTO headquarters to discuss best practices in order to enhance and improve the effectiveness of the program.  IPC’s client, Albert Gene Higdon, Jr., of Mean Gene Leather, recently obtained US Patent No. 10,352,652 on his tactical leather carrier pouches. The AR “Burro” Magazine Pouch, which is designed to hold AR type magazines, is handmade from US leather with heat treated 17-4 stainless steel springs, also made in the US.
Gene’s unique approach to tactical gear design is unparalleled in the industry and he continues to be involved and support the firearms and tactical industry partners. Congratulations to our client, “Mean Gene,” on the continued success of Mean Gene Leather!  IPC routinely assists our clients in the firearm and tactical gear industry protect their intellectual property. Recently, one of our clients, Edge-Works Manufacturing Company, a leading developer and manufacturer of tactical gear, was granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for its novel expandable magazine carrier, the Soft Shell Scorpion Rifle Mag Carrier.
Edge-Works is a Burgaw, NC company that specializes in the development and production of G-code holsters and accessories. The Soft Shell Scorpion Rifle Mag Carrier is a hybrid that combines unconventional materials, construction methods and features in a way that elevates function and brings performance to new levels. IPC is thrilled to celebrate this accomplishment with Edge-Works!  IPC is proud to announce that Ian C. Barras has been named an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University School of Law, where Ian is an instructor in Tulane’s Patent Lab. His new role at Tulane involves supervision of law students as they obtain practical, real-world experience representing clients in patent matters on a pro bono basis before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Since August of 2017, Tulane Law School has been certified by the USPTO to provide pro bono patent and trademark legal services to micro entities.
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