As recently reported by the Hollywood Reporter, Victor Miller (“Miller”), the screenwriter of the original Friday the 13th film, successfully reclaimed the U.S. domestic rights to the Friday the 13th franchise.
Miller relied on copyright termination rights — a part of copyright law that permits authors to reclaim the rights to works they created after a set period of time elapses.
The decision hinged on the characterization of Miller’s relationship with the producer. The court held that Miller was an independent contractor and rejected the producer’s argument that Miller created his screenplay as a "work for hire" that is ineligible for termination.
Amendments to the Trademarks Regulations will take effect on April 1, 2025. These changes are part of broader updates to the Trademarks Act, introduced through the Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No…
Heineken’s Lagunitas Brewery has reportedly advanced its trademark and copyright claims over its "La Tropical" beer in a legal battle involving Cuban-origin brands. As reported by Bloomberg, the…
Marvel and DC have reportedly lost their long-held trademarks for “Super Hero”. For decades, the two comic giants jointly owned the trademark, with DC using it for its DC Super Hero Cafe and…
In January 2025, the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) is launching a pilot project in which the Registrar of Trademarks will issue 50–100 section 45 notices per month for randomly selected trademark…
There has been a reported surge in trademark phishing scams. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) issued a statement warning of an email phishing scam targeting members of the public by…
A few recent patent applications reveal that the Honda Element may be making its return to the automotive industry: The first patent application is a “camper for a vehicle”. The second…
