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Apr
19
Fame Appeal at Widener University School of Law School
April 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Fame Appeal has been featured on the Widener Law School News. Many thanks to the Faculty and Staff who assisted in this process. Especially to the web editor for writing a great article.
You can find the article here
Apr
18
Hill Harper Esq. Helps inspire for Pepsi Refresh Project
April 18, 2010 | 2 Comments
Fame Appeal Fan Fahad Shariff, reports from New York as an attendee to a trendy seminar sponsored by Pepsi co. called the Refresh Project. Where Pepsi is looking for “people, business, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. It urges you to look around your community and think about how you want to change it.” Hill Harper who you might know from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, gave a great lecture encouraging people from of all ages to find innovative ways that will help help better the community and the people around them. In addition to Fame Appeal fan’s, those who attended work for various non-profit organization, or have ideas to start an organization and just a need financial push to pursue their goals to listen to a seminar to promote peoples ideas to start up things that will change your community or society
Fonzworth Bentley called who attended “ceo’s” because everyone is the owner of their own corporation its just their own push and pursuit of excellence will get you there”
Apr
16
Global IP protection for TV/Game Shows
April 16, 2010 | Leave a Comment
- Alternative dispute resolution services, are now available to protect the concepts behind media such as Game Shows and Reality shows from unauthorized spin-offs across the world.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Doesn’t this reality tv show look like one that was cancelled a couple months ago?” Well TV show creators around the world have been asking themselves a slightly similar question, except they see it as an unauthorized copy. On April 11th an alternate dispute resolution to prevent the furtherance of unauthorized copying of televsion formats opened. Thanks to the joint efforts from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Format Recognition and Protection Association (FRAPA). The need for international protection is well founded, so many game shows or reality have started in one country and then a copy made in a different country. Although the licensed show Indian Idol, (from American Idol) was one of the highest rated shows in the country; due the shows success unauthorized spin offs phone-in voting talent shows have have spread.
Potential users of the WIPO Mediation and Expedited Arbitration Rules for Film and Media include film makers, directors, actors, performers and guild/industry associations. The special WIPO Mediation and Expedited Arbitration for Film and Media are particularly time and cost-efficient procedures specifically tailored to the needs of parties in most film and media disputes. However, the WIPO Center recognizes that in certain complex film and media disputes, users in the film and media sector may prefer to choose the standard WIPO Arbitration Rules. The standard WIPO Arbitration Rules provide for longer timelines and the possibility of appointing a three-member arbitral tribunal. Where the parties in a film and media dispute have opted for standard WIPO Arbitration, the WIPO Center still makes available its WIPO List of Arbitrators for Film and Media from which the parties can select arbitrators. Source
- Format Recognition and Protection Association Press release located here.
- You can see the rule of arbitration here
- Many thanks to Fame Fan Dan Heller about this topic.
Apr
14
Guess hires a fake lawyer against Gucci
April 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Guest writer Susan Scafidi. Fashion Law Professor at Fordham Law
www.counterfeitchic.com
Gucci (top) Guess (bottom
How can you tell whether that guy down at the courthouse is a practicing attorney or just someone who wears pinstripes well?
- Law degree? Check.
- Bar exam passage? Check.
- Business cards with a formal title, or at least an “Esq.”? Check.
- Client? Check.
- Case? Check.
- Current state bar membership? Oops.
When Gucci’s then-in-house counsel Jonathan Moss first noticed that Guess seemed perhaps a bit too admiring of certain famous Gucci trademarks, it seemed that he had everything going for him. A job with a storied fashion house and a juicy brand protection case to pursue — what more could a lawyer want?
A reminder to reactivate his long-dormant California bar membership, apparently. It seems that the New York-based Moss had deactivated his only state bar membership some 13 years before filing the case to avoid the annual fee — and counsel for defendant Guess noticed. Now Guess is requesting access to internal Gucci communications with respect to the case, arguing that they are not covered by attorney-client privilege because Jonathan wasn’t a licensed lawyer at the time they were made.
Whether or not the Guess gambit works, and whether or not the court ultimately finds that Guess infringed Gucci’s trademarks, this case will be remembered for the error that caused a luxury label to turn its inside counsel out.
In regards to the trademark infringement case: Given that Gucci owns U.S. trademarks on both its “GG” logo in diamond configuration (reg. #3072547) and its green and red stripe (reg. #1483526) for footwear, Guess seems to be almost taunting its higher-priced competitor. On the other hand, there are definite if subtle differences in the companies’ respective Gs, the colors of the stripes, and the otherwise unprotected shoe designs.
Still, if the question is whether a court would find a likelihood of confusion between the two, I’d hate to (be) Guess.
The brand protection case is here
Note: On my second day of law school I started to read Counterfeit Chic. Thank you Susan Scafidi for educating me.
Apr
12
Disney owes Hannah Montana creators $5M!
April 12, 2010 | 1 Comment
The creators of Hannah Montana are suing Disney for $5 Million of backpay!
The entertainment industry loses its glitz and glamour once a contract disputes surfaces. Hidden somewhere in between some buried contract section is a clause that contains terms for who will get compensated for what, and by how much. Lawyers know this, however the artist they represent fall victim to it every time. In the TV biz, there are advancements given around the board in hopes that directors, producers, actors will stay on board to ensure a television show’s success.
You would think Hanah montana’s innocence would make disney play fair. however, anyone who knwos disney’s tenacity would tell you, they wont pay up without a fight. and a legal fight co creators Barry O’Brien and Richard Correll are prepared for. O’Brien and Correll created the show with Michael Poryes in 2005. They now say they’re owed millions in pre-negotiated percentage-based bonuses based on their backend deals and WGA requirements for writers who receive “created by” credits. The duo claim Disney has denied repeated requests for payment and thwarted attempts to audit profits from the show. source
The new lawsuit, filed by Robert Nau of Los Angeles firm Alexander Nau Lawrence Frumes & Labowitz, claims damages of at least $5 million on causes of action for breach of contract, accounting and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. source
Fame Appeal is working on getting a copy of the complaint