Guest post by Taylor Josey, rising 3L at the University of Georgia School of Law Is your trademark registrable or “merely ornamental”? There are a number of factors that must be considered when deciding whether to register a trademark. For instance, one must do a search to see whether a similar registered trademark already exists, […]
What Does This Mean for Fans of Captain Beefheart?
Apparently, in August of last year, Frank Zappa’s widow, Gail Zappa, filed an application to trademark the name “Captain Beefheart.” That application was recently approved and the trademark has apparently issued. Captain Beefheart was the nom de plume of Don Van Vliet, a frequent collaborator of Frank’s and an amazing boundary-pushing artist whose albums, particularly […]
Two Bands, One Name: How to Protect the Name of Your Band (Or Company)
by John Seay, Atlanta Entertainment Lawyer: The Seay Firm LLC (@TheSeayFirmLLC) This article initially appeared a little while ago but was recently posted again on Digital Music News, which is a fantastic source for daily music news and information. The article features insight from two Atlanta-based attorneys, including a friend of mine, trademark guru James […]
How to Respond to a Cease and Desist Letter
This is Part 1 of a two-part series on cease and desist letters. This Part discusses what to do if you receive a cease and desist letter. Part 2 discusses what to do if you need to send a cease and desist letter. Please note that the below is intended to help you understand the […]