Most artists are well aware that it's illegal to copy the work of another artist and claim it as their own. But what are the limits when it comes to the identity of the artists themselves? Can two artists share the same name, or is what we call ourselves considered...
Business Law Professionals
Month: February 2012
2 New Jersey theater companies make history with merger
In today's economy, it can be hard to keep businesses devoted to the arts alive and going strong. Many businesses rely on outside funding such as grants and public donations to stay afloat, and with so many patrons struggling to pay their own bills, this financial...
Food fight: Chef accused of plagiarism
A popular food television network fired one of its hosts after allegations of plagiarism began to swirl.The woman, who hosts a show on cable television's Food Network, was accused of stealing intellectual property belonging to other famed chefs. Producers for the...
Producers of Tom Cruise film slapped with breach of contract suit
The producers of an upcoming Tom Cruise movie are being sued for breach of contract by another producer who is no longer involved with the project. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, alleges that the producers of "One Shot" edged him out of the film adaptation of...
Justice Dept. wants bigger intellectual property enforcement team
The U.S. Justice Department is asking to hire more prosecutors to pursue intellectual property crimes as the entertainment industry pressures it to crack down on copyright infringement and counterfeiting. Although Congress turned down the department's $3 million...
What makes a successful business merger?
Thinking of merging your business with another one? If you already have another company in mind, congratulations. But how can you be assured your new partnership will be a success? Just like a good marriage, a successful merger requires a harmonious blend of...
Lt. gov.: Eased regulations making N.J. more business-friendly
New Jersey's lieutenant governor says New Jersey is becoming more business-friendly thanks to scaled-back regulations and the elimination of a lot of red tape, according to a report released today by her office. The report, completed by a commission formed to pinpoint...
Think your baby’s name is popular? Check the patent office
What's in a name? Quite a fortune, if you're the child of a celebrity power couple. Within a month after music moguls Jay-Z and Beyonce announced the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, they filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to...
Kodak employees sue company over 401(k) failure
People who invest in their company's 401(k) or stock option plans are not usually armchair stockbrokers. Most employees think more about the percentage of their salary they're contributing rather than the stocks in which they're investing. A publicly held company may...