Blog • Spear IP

Put A ® On It: Color Trademarks and Cheerios

9/21/17

Color trademarks are unique beasts. Either color is an essential part of your packaging, logo, or overall branding (looking at you, Lyft), or color is kind of a non-issue. (Think about the rainbow of Nike swooshes you’ve seen in your lifetime.) It’s possible to register or “trademark” a color, but, as General Mills just learned, it’s not easy. Below, a little more on color trademarks and the registration process.

People Are “Total-ly” Suing Amazon for Counterfeit Eclipse Glasses

9/1/17

Those of you in the Nashville, Tennessee area remember the total eclipse that occurred last week. For two blissful minutes (or eerie minutes, depending on your perspective), the sun disappeared, the birds stopped chirping while the cicadas started, and there was a sunset on every horizon. After a flurry of “eye-popping” prices for eclipse glasses, some unscrupulous vendors began peddling counterfeit glasses — glasses that would not protect your eyeballs from the wonders of science. … Continue reading →

Year Three: What to Expect from Spear IP

8/28/17

The book has closed on Year Two. Year Two meant increased community involvement, a podcast appearance, and the release of two basic legal checklists. Here is a look at what to look forward to in Year Three.

Second Anniversary: Blog Round-Up

8/10/17

This month marks the second (!) anniversary of Spear IP’s opening. You might notice that Spear IP started as a general intellectual property law practice. In its second year, Spear IP pivoted to focus on the fashion, hospitality, blog and new media, and tech industries, along with creative (non-musical) professionals. Here is a look back at the lessons learned and content shared on the Spear IP Blog during Year Two.

Real Talk on Entrepreneurship and Essential Skills

6/29/17

I’ve heard too many friends and colleagues talk about how “scary” or “impressive” it seems to start your own business. I don’t know about impressive, but entrepreneurship can certainly be scary. It’s also amazing, crazy, and incredibly fulfilling. This post deviates from the usual educational material you’ll find on the Spear IP Blog. It’s time for some real talk about entrepreneurship and the must-have skills for taking the leap (in my very humble and non-expert opinion).

Protecting a Blog (Series): DIY, Recipes, + Copyright for Bloggers

6/15/17

Copyright for bloggers is a funny topic once you consider the special rules that apply to recipes, ingredients, and instructions. In this post, you’ll find an explanation of those special rules and how they affect copyright protection for a blog.

Protecting a Blog (Series): Copyright + Copy

6/1/17

When we think “the media,” a blog might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but think about it. A blog is content that is updated daily (if not more frequently), and a single blog post can be shared thousands of times. So when it comes to blog content, what’s protectable, and how do you protect it? This two-part series will look at just that. Below, you’ll learn about the protectable elements in a blog and some of the … Continue reading →

Making Sense of Labeling Requirements for Clothing and Apparel

5/11/17

Labeling requirements for clothing and apparel — what a topic! Many of us are now in the habit of asking where our food came from and what’s in our favorite snacks, and consumers, in increasing numbers, are starting to look at the makeup of our clothing. Fiber content and place of manufacture are but some of the items listed on a clothing label. This post provides some basic education on apparel labeling requirements.

Who Made My Clothes: Beyond Fashion Revolution Week

4/28/17

Fashion Revolution Week is coming to a close. What is Fashion Revolution Week? It’s not just the movement behind the hashtag #WhoMadeMyClothes. The Fashion Revolution is a movement with the clear goal of encouraging consumers to be aware of where their clothing comes from, and making purchasing decisions based on that information.

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