When the Trademark Office Uses AI: How Automated Examination Changes Clearance, Prosecution and Portfolio Risk
For businesses investing in a new name, logo or product line, trademark clearance is meant to answer a practical question: how much risk are we taking if we move forward with this brand? The United States Patent and Trademark Office is now using artificial intelligence to process, organize and search trademark information at a scale […]
U.S. Copyright Office Proposes First Fee Changes Since 2020
Businesses and creators planning copyright registrations or recordations should review upcoming filing needs before fall 2026. The U.S. Copyright Office has submitted a new fee schedule to Congress that would increase the cost of many frequently used services, including standard registrations, group registrations and recordation of ownership documents. The proposal is not yet effective. The […]
The Intent Gap: Why Product Architecture May Become the New Evidence in Copyright Cases
For technology companies, platforms and businesses developing AI tools, Cox Communications, Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment, 607 U.S. __ (2026), offers an important lesson about how a company communicates the intended use of its product. The case involved Cox internet subscribers who used peer-to-peer networks to share copyrighted music without permission. Sony Music Entertainment and […]
EU Design Reform Is Now Fully Operational: New Filing Formats and Portfolio Implications
U.S. companies selling products or offering digital experiences in Europe should take note of the latest stage of EU design reform. As of July 1, 2026, the modernized European Union design framework is fully operational, with new filing formats and examination rules that may affect how businesses protect physical products, interfaces and animated features. One […]
From Taylor’s Version to Taylor’s Voice: What Taylor Swift Teaches Us About Owning Identity in the AI Era
When Taylor Swift began re-recording her first six albums, she turned a dispute over master recordings into a public lesson in intellectual property ownership. Her fans didn’t need to understand every aspect of music copyright or the contractual history behind her original recordings to know Swift was making a major statement. She gave fans a […]
Foreign Legal Update: Louis Vuitton v. Molly Tea and the Problem With Owning Cultural Symbols
A reported trademark ruling in China involving Louis Vuitton and the fast-growing beverage chain Molly Tea has prompted a larger debate over whether a global brand can claim exclusive rights in a symbol that consumers associate with their own cultural history. According to press reports, the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court found that Molly Tea’s four-petal […]
Dupe Culture Has a Legal Blind Spot: Why Copying the “Vibe” May Be the Next Big Brand Fight
Dupe culture used to describe a relatively simple transaction: a consumer wanted the look or function of an expensive product without paying the brand-name price. The alternative might resemble the original, but it was usually marketed as a substitute rather than an experience of its own. That distinction has become much harder to make. Today’s […]
Client Update: AI Talent Is Not a Shortcut Around Clearance
Brands are increasingly using AI-generated models, synthetic performers, voiceovers, avatars and virtual influencers because they can reduce production time and cost. The technology may simplify parts of the creative process, but it does not remove the need for legal clearance. In many cases, it adds a new set of rights, disclosure and contractual issues that […]
Beyond Registration: Andrea Cristiani on Building an IP Strategy That Supports Growth
Intellectual property is often treated as a technical legal exercise: clear a name, file an application, secure a registration. But for companies building valuable brands, that is only the beginning. Andrea Cristiani, an attorney at Minx Law and a multi-year Super Lawyers Rising Star, approaches trademark and brand protection through a broader commercial lens. Having […]
Intellectual Property for Tech Companies: Protecting Software, AI, Data, Brands, and Innovation
For technology companies, intellectual property is rarely limited to a single asset or department. It may exist within the software product, the customer experience, the company’s data practices, its brand identity, and the confidential knowledge that allows the business to move faster than competitors. That is why intellectual property should be treated as part of […]
