Do The Wright Thing
By Alex O’Sullivan-Pierce
It was vulgar, imprudent, and immature. It was foolish, and it definitely wasn’t grammatically correct. It was an All-American cornerback’s Twitter feed. This account was closed, along with the door to at least one premier college football program, on one of the most promising high school prospects in the nation, Yuri Wright. Only months after helping Don Bosco Prepatory Academy bring home a National Football Championship, Wright was expelled from the private, Catholic high school in New Jersey because of a series of sexually explicit and racially charged Tweets which began in July. The University of Michigan, once seen as the frontrunner to land the talented defensive back, revoked his scholarship offer after learning of the expulsion.
Kardashian Sister’s Lash Out
By: Alison Parker
The latest Kardashian drama actually doesn’t involve Kris Humphries or Khloe assaulting a transgender woman, but it involves something the sisters are adored for–their eyelashes.
The sisters are threatening legal action against Sarah Ehrlich, the maker of an eyelash elongation product, because she has filed a petition to trademark the name “KardashianLash.” Apparently Ms. Ehrlich spoke to TMZ and told them that she wanted to use KardashianLash to help raise money to send Honduran orphans to cosmetology school and that she didn’t think the Kardashian sisters would mind. And not only do the Kardashian’s mind, they claim that she is infringing on their trademark and they will do whatever it takes to get her to stop.
Limits on IP Protection: Copyright Misuse
By Jaiana Casanova
Reviewed by Kyu Hee Chu
As we all know, the purpose of Intellectual Property protection is to grant exclusive rights over certain assets, such as music, books, inventions, among others; giving the owners monopoly over the assets and the opportunity to capitalize on them for a specific period of time. After this time has passed, the asset becomes part of public domain. This happens specifically with Patents and Copyrights.
J.Lo’s Fiat Fiasco
By Alison Parker
Reviewed by Jennifer Williams
J.Lo’s new commercial for Fiat automobiles features her driving around the Bronx, her hometown, in a white Fiat 500. There has been a bit of controversy surrounding the commercial because it turns out that the Bronx scenes were shot using a body double and the scenes with J.Lo were shot in Los Angeles. This filming tactic seemed a bit ironic because the theme of the commercial is that the Bronx is her “world” and she lists all the reasons this place “inspires” her.
But that wasn’t the only controversy surrounding the video. Graffiti artist group Tats Cru sued Fiat for the unauthorized use of their “I [heart] Bronx” mural which appears in the video. Fiat quickly settled the dispute with the group for an undisclosed amount.
Creating the Pay-Per-Mile High Club
By Gabriella Ripoll
Reviewed by Jennifer Williams
Can airplanes become bastions of airporn? Sexual speech, even speech short of obscenity, has not been held particularly dear by the Supreme Court in their First Amendment jurisprudence, with zoning regulations as to pornographic theaters and laws banning nude dancing both being held to be within Constitutional rights. E.g. Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc., 475 U.S. 41 (1986); Erie v. Pap’s A.M., 529 U.S. 277 (2000). So what legislation might airlines expect in response to the development of in-flight pornography on demand for fliers? Austin Considine, “Pornography on Airplanes, Where You Can’t Look Away,” NYTimes, Nov. 18 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/20/fashion/pornography-on-airplanes-where-you-cant-look-away.html?_r=1&ref=fashion
Tootsie Roll v. Footzyrolls
By Maria Cheung
Reviewed by Jennifer Williams
The Chicago based candy giant Tootsie Roll Industries (“Tootsie”) is suing Rollashoe, a small footwear company that makes rollable ballet slippers, for trademark infringement. According to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois, Rollashoe whose shoes are marketed under the name Footzyrolls, is infringing on the brand name of Tootsie Roll.
Porn Studio Sues HTC
By: Maria Cheung
Vivid Entertainment, a porn studio, claims that HTC, the company that manufactures Android phones, has infringed its trademark in the name Vivid by using the mark for one of its newest smartphones, the HTC Vivid. Vivid Entertainment has threatened to sue the electronic company for trademark infringement and trademark dilution. It has most recently issued HTC a cease and desist letter on this matter.
INTA Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Christian Louboutin
By Jaiana Casanova
Reviewed by Kyu Hee Chu
As the Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent saga continues, following Tiffany’s, the International Trademark Association (INTA) has filed an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit in support of Christian Louboutin’s famous red-sole. In this brief, INTA argues that the lower court’s decision for preliminary injunction should be vacated and remanded on the basis that the court erred in its analysis of the validity of the trademark and that they did not properly apply the aesthetic functionality doctrine.
When Opinions Can Get You In Trouble
By Alison Parker
Reviewed by Jennifer Williams
I studied journalism in college and if I learned anything, it was that as journalists, we hold ourselves out to be the fourth branch of government; it is our duty to objectively report the state of affairs in an informed and unbiased manner. Sure, a lot of news out there today may appear to be a bit liberal or a bit conservative, and some sources are definitely sensational at times. But despite attempts to sell papers, or in this day and age, to get clicks, the journalistic oath remains in tact. There are certain jobs where giving your two bits is acceptable, but being a journalist certainly isn’t one of them.
Selena Gomez’s Crazy Stalker Drama
By Alison Parker
Reviewed by Jennifer Williams
Selena Gomez was denied a permanent restraining order in court–but not because her stalker wasn’t deemed threatening enough, but because he failed to appear in court. Although 36-year-old alleged stalker Thomas Bronicki has been released from jail, he currently resides at a psychiatric ward in an unnamed hospital in Los Angeles. The judge did, however, extend Ms. Gomez’s temporary restraining order so that she could have some protection in the meantime until the next hearing, which is scheduled for January 6. If Mr. Bronicki appears for that hearing, the judge will then determine whether a permanent restraining order, which can last for 1-3 years subject to renewal, is warranted.
