Dumb Starbucks or Smart Starbucks? Brewing Up Effective Parodies

Years before I started law school, I enjoyed indulging in the work of a comedian named Nathan Fielder, a master of absurdist comedy. Never did I realize this would be one of my first encounters with the many principles of trademark law. On his show, Nathan for You, he acts as a “consultant” helping real people with their real businesses. However, Nathan’s version of “help” only included absurd and unrealistic ideas, such as the concept of “Dumb Starbucks.”
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Is a Rhythm Copyrightable? Bad Bunny’s Unique Defense to Copyright Infringement

A Massive Lawsuit Threatening the Reggaeton Genre

In 1989, Jamaican reggae duo Steely & Clevie released “Fish Market.” Since reggae first hit the music scene in the late 1960’s, the genre was still highly impressionable. Soon after release, it became known as the first example of a “dembow” rhythm  – a sub-genre of reggae music distinguished by constant rhythm and faster beats per minute . The main element of Dembow is its riddim, a Jamaican term for rhythm which tends to be simple and repetitive.
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An Unexpected Journey From Healthcare to IP

“Study what interests you and the rest will work itself out” As a high achieving high school student, choosing a college major felt like choosing a career. I remember placing so much pressure on picking my college of study. Then I got some very simple advice from my career counselor at the time. She said, “study what interests you and the rest will work itself … Continue reading An Unexpected Journey From Healthcare to IP