Updated: Aug 24
A host of books, musical works, literary works and art created in 1924 have entered the public domain on January 1st and are now free to use. These materials include books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, plays by Eugene O’Neill and art from Georgia O’Keefe.
Updated: Aug 24
Rolex has recently filed suit against laCalifornienne for allegedly dealing in fake watches. LaCalifornienne has been adding non-Rolex sanctioned dials, crystals, and other accessories to pre-owned Rolex® watches and reselling them as genuine Rolex® watches. Rolex considers any watch that includes a non-Rolex part to be a counterfeit.
Rolex filed a similar case against a jeweler that was “enhancing” Rolex® watches with gemstones and other decorative adornments. The Fifth Circuit sided with Rolex in that case.
In a similar case involving the modification of circuit breakers, the Ninth Circuit held “that “when an original mark is attached to a [reconditioned] product in such a way as to deceive the public [as to the source of the product], the product itself becomes a ‘counterfeit’ just as it would if an imitation of the trademark were attached.”
Updated: Aug 24
Actor James Dean died in 1955 at the age of 24 but that has not stopped him from appearing in the new action film “Finding Jack.” The film is set to feature Dean in a co-starring role, using computer images generated from old footage. While the producers and film makers appear to have legally acquired Dean’s personality rights, many feel the role does a disservice to Dean’s legacy.
