Author Archives: John DiGiacomo

Grumpy Cat’s owners sued a company for exceeding the scope of a licensing agreement. Here’s what the copyright and trademark case decided and what it means for licensing deals.

Understanding how hackers breach systems is the first step to defending against them. Here are 10 of the most common data breach attack methods.

Automated trademark filing services can miss critical legal issues that lead to rejection or weak protection. Here’s why you should think twice before using them.

Trademark strength determines how much legal protection your mark receives. Here’s the five-level trademark distinctiveness spectrum from fanciful to generic marks.

In practice, a trade secret can be pretty much anything. The federal Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S. Code § 1839(3), defines a “trade secret” as: … all forms and types of financial, business, scientific, technical, economic, or engineering information, including patterns, plans, compilations, program devices, formulas, designs, prototypes, methods, techniques, processes, procedures, programs, or codes, […]

Trademark priority is determined by first use in commerce, but secrecy around a launch can create risks. Here’s how to preserve your priority date without tipping off competitors.

The Apple vs. Samsung trade dress battle produced landmark rulings on protectable product design. Here’s what the case teaches about trademarking product appearance.

Nonconsensual pornography, sometimes called revenge porn, causes severe harm and triggers legal liability. Here’s how victims can respond and what legal options are available.

China’s trademark system has significant differences from the U.S. that catch foreign brand owners off guard. Here’s what to know before entering the Chinese market.

Strong data security management reduces the risk of a costly breach. These 10 tips help businesses build a defensible cybersecurity posture.