In Episode 23 of the "Law & Business" podcast, Verna Law's own patent agent, Wil Jacques, speaks with Anthony about the three items that make a patentable invention. The three items for a patentable invention are: It must be new or "novel": the invention must...
Articles by anthony verna
Law & Business Podcast: Episode 22 with Sarah DeGeorge of Socially Dedicated
On Episode 22 of the Law & Business podcast, I chat with Sarah DeGeorge of Socially Dedicated. It's a part of our Philly Bloggers series. Sarah and I chat about her blog, Socially Dedicated, and what it means for business. Sarah has tips on her...
Law & Business Podcast: Episode 21 with Chrystina Cappello, the founder of the Chrystina Noel blog and of PHL Bloggers
That's right. Season 2 of the "Law & Business" Podcast is back. We start with Episode 21, in which we have a discussion with Chrystina Cappello, the founder of the Chrystina Noel blog and of PHL Bloggers. The Chrystina Noel blog is all about...
You can now register offensive trademarks. Here is why.
Simon Tam, the lead singer of The Slants, chose his band’s name in order to “reclaim” the term and “drain its denigrating force as a derogatory term for Asian persons.” In 2011, he attempted to trademark the name, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office refused...
What are the DuPont Factors?
The scope of a trademark - either its use or its application for registration - is determined by whether there is "likelihood of confusion" (note that this is different from whether there has been any actual confusion), between that trademark and another trademark in...
Important Patent Litigation Decision from the Supreme Court
Navigating Patent Lawsuits Post-TC Heartland Decision: Understanding Jurisdiction and Venue Introduction: On May 22, 2017, the Supreme Court rendered a pivotal decision in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, reshaping the landscape of patent litigation....
Have You Ever Received an E-mail from China About Registering a Domain Name There?
Let's define the situation: You've registered your domain name. You have your website going. Then you receive an e-mail similar to this: "(It's very urgent, please transfer this email to your CEO. Thanks) We are the domain registration and solution center in...
Why did Mars Inc. File a Trademark Infringement Lawsuit against a Small Company?
Candy maker Mars Inc. is suing a Wisconsin woman over chocolates she is selling under a name that the company argues is "confusingly similar" to its cocoa extract supplements called CocoaVia. Mars said in a federal lawsuit filed March 24 that the chocolates sold in...
Why Can’t Deadmau5 Register his Cat’s Name as a Trademark?
Why Can't Deadmau5 Register his Cat's Name as a Trademark? Have you heard? Deadmau5 has a cat called Prof. Meowingtons, PhD, so named because he meows a lot, as in “meowing tons.” (This comes as news to us at Verna Law, however, we can accept this as...
Law & Business Podcast Episode 26: Ed Heerey Helps Compare U.S. and Australian Rights of Privacy and Publicity Law and Issues
In the Law & Business Podcast Episode 26, Australian barrister Ed Heerey helps to compare U.S. and Australian...
Law & Business Podcast Episode 25: John Rubinstein Helps Compare U.S. and U.K. Trademark Law and Issues
This is our first "Law & Business" podcast episode recorded during the International Bar Association annual...
Patentability is not a “Shark Tank” Pitch
As a part of the standard operating procedure here at Verna Law, P.C., we have a special form for clients and...