EP’s Louboutin Decision Opens the Door for U.S. Businesses to Protect Their Color/Shape Brands in Europe, IP Watchdog (September 4, 2018)

In an article for IP Watchdog, Dr. Dariush Adli examines the relevance and significance of European high court’s decision to recognize color a protectable form of trademark and offers practical advice to businesses who own color trademarks to take advantage of the ruling by obtaining exclusivity for their products in the EP market. To read…

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Got Bad Reviews? That’s Too Bad, Under New Law

It’s been said that “opinions are like a________s – everyone has one”.   But they can do serious damage to a business when they take the form of negative reviews online. People are entitled to express their opinions (it’s that pesky free speech thing).  Reviews have become powerful influencers.  Most of us won’t consider buying or…

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No Fake News Here. Your Website or App Content Can Get You Sued for Copyright Infringement, Unless It Complies with New Law

President Trump regularly says you can’t trust the media.  He’s 100% right — if he’s talking about a type of digital media.  This would be the third-party content, such as videos, photos, and posts to chat rooms, bulletin boards, and discussion forums, that are hosted on a site or app (“Site(s)” for purposes of this…

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Trade Secrets: The Growing Battlefront

Earlier this year, the most publicized trade secret case of our lifetimes played out in court between two giants, Waymo LLC (actually a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc.) and Uber Technologies, Inc. Both companies were developing self-driving car technology, a game-changer in transportation that may forever transform how we get from one place…

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California’s Take on Non-Compete Agreements

It is a common refrain by executives, managers, and employees generally: Can my former employer really enforce the non-competition agreement I signed when I first joined the company? The answer, as is often the case in the legal realm, is yes, no and maybe. California, unlike many other states, has laws against “restraint of trade.”…

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What’s in A Name? Everything If Your Name Is Kylie Jenner

We’re saturated with Kylie Jenner.  She has a celebrity.  She’s all over reality TV as a Kardashian adjunct.  She regularly graces the covers of tabloids.  She has tens of millions of followers as a social media icon.  She has a burgeoning career as a fashionista, either selling or planning to sell clothing, cosmetics and accessories.…

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Who’s An Employee? The Impact of Dynamex, Daily Journal (July 2, 2018)

In an article for the Daily Journal, Dr. Dariush Adli examines the landmark decision, where the California Supreme Court changed the standard for designating employees as independent contractors, making it much more difficult to classify employees as independent contractors. The article discusses the implications of the decision on California’s Gig economy as well the potential…

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