By: H.W. Pfabe | March 20, 2017

Copyright REUTERS

This post isn't about politics, or Donald Trump.


The picture at the top? Well, that's largely click bait... but it IS actually relevant to what I'm writing about below.

This post is about the (figuratively and literally) shadowy figure in the picture: Mr. Isaac "Ike" Perlmutter.


I've actually been planning to write about Mr. Perlmutter since his court case came to my attention in October of 2016. Then, there were new developments in January of 2017. Now, with President Trump having very publicly announced his dinner meeting with Mr. Perlmutter last night, it seemed like as good a time as any to post.

WHO IS IKE PERLMUTTER?

 

Mr. Perlmutter is the Chairman of Marvel Entertainment (though he has been referring to himself as CEO ...

Category: Privacy 

Tags: Marvel, Privacy, Property 

By: H.W. Pfabe | January 20, 2017

 

Pretty big news this week. Big news that no one seems to be noticing, since all eyes are on the incoming President.

 

I always try to stay on top of news that is relevant to Start-Ups and other early-stage businesses, since they are often the companies whose survival most depends on a proper Intellectual Property Strategy. Additionally, Start-Ups can thrive or die in the blink of an eye as government regulations change.

 

So, what is the news? Which government entity is now affecting Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs? Believe it or not, it’s the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

 

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

On January 17, 2017, DHS issued a new regulation, referred to as the International Entrepreneur Rule. Why is DHS...

By: H.W. Pfabe | January 06, 2017

"Shark Tank"/ABC


 

As I’ve mentioned before, I volunteer a fair amount of my time with a number of Small Businesses and Start-Ups, and that means that I end up hearing a lot of pitches. Pitches aimed at potential Clients. Pitches aimed at potential Partners. Pitches aimed at potential Investors. Pitches aimed at potential Distributors. All kinds of pitches.

 

One common element? They all want to sound good. They all want to sound like the next big thing.

 

This tends to mean some exaggerating. The slightly more innocent “It sounds good, and come on, nobody believes this anyway” kind is known, in the legal field, as “puffery.” However, in reality, especially when dealing with health or fitness companies, it is also known as “deceptive.”

 

Generally speaking,...

By: H.W. Pfabe | December 13, 2016

 


Sometimes you see things at the store, and they just bother you.

 

I’m not referring to rude shoppers or to products endorsed by celebrities whose only claim to fame is being a celebrity (though those bug me too). Since this is an Intellectual Property blog, I’m referring to Labeling and Marketing.

 

I recently came across a body and face wash, made by one of the leading (and largest) brands in the field. Looking at the back, right at the top, in very LARGE letters, it proudly proclaims “PATENT FILED TECHNOLOGY” (the picture is at the top of this article, edited to remove the brand name).

 

Why does this get under my skin? Because this means NOTHING.

 

Well, almost nothing.

 

 

WHY?

 

To begin with, and this is being nitpicky, I know: A ...

Category: Patents 

Tags: Patent Filed Technology 

By: H.W. Pfabe | November 30, 2016

Attorney Pfabe will be presenting a workshop on Protecting and Growing Your Business using Intellectual Property at the Scibelli Enterprise Center in Springfield, MA, at 11am on Dec. 7th.

The workshop will is co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center and SCORE.

It will discuss Trademarks, Copyright, Patents, Trade Secrets, Non-Disclosure Agreements, and other IP matters, with a focus on Small Businesses.

If you are in the area that day, come join the conversation!

https://goo.gl/PPRPD9