| TODAY IS CINCO DE MAYO Mark the day by reading about the real history of the holiday, then try a recipe from Chipotle or Taco Bell, among others. IP Updates There may be secrets to what makes a good brand name, but even the best brands can expect their values to decline due to COVID-19. Perhaps that’s why IP litigation remains important to entities like Sealaska Heritage Institute, which has filed suit against Neiman Marcus and Alanui over a sweater design. The suit asserts violations of copyright and the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. Don’t let virus-related disruptions do lasting damage to your intellectual property. If you have financial IP issues, Asterion can help. FYI In Romag Fasteners v. Fossil, Inc., SCOTUS unanimously rejected the requirement that trademark infringements must be willful for profits to be disgorged. USPTO says only humans can be inventors, not AI. Here’s what malls may soon look like (Poor Credit Mall visualization included). Trends We’re Watching Distressed debt funds are growing. Zoom trials. What could go wrong? Museums contemplate selling items in their collections, despite knowing that living off the principal is never good. On the Lighter Side For Sale: Cold War Missile Site in NJ; meanwhile, the U.S. Navy declassifies three alleged UFO videos. A new snake has been named for Harry Potter’s Salazar Slytherin. Maui has the best banana bread, according to the BBC (recipe included), and an ancient mill in England is making flour again, possibly to meet a surge in demand from bakers of Maui-style banana bread. What’s Puzzling Us Waffle Houses are starting to reopen. (Or is this something that doesn’t surprise us at all?) What Doesn’t Surprise Us At All You need to move your car. Rats are taking up residence in cars no one’s driving. Thread Recommendations: Get Lost in Space View the newest comet, SWAN. Find out what Hubble saw on your birthday, thanks to NASA. (You don’t have to give the year of your birth, only the date. DON’T do this if you use your birthday as part of your passwords or pin codes.) Explore the new map of the Moon’s geology, produced by USGS. What to Watch: Wind currents across the United States in real time. The northern lights on a virtual tour of Alaska. Birds in your backyard on Big Day, May 9, 2020 (courtesy of the Cornell Bird Lab). Spotlight on Intellectual Property Asterion, Inc. has extensive experience in the provision of expert and commercial advice related to the financial and economic issues surrounding Intellectual Property (“IP”). |
May 5, 2020