The Supreme Court's decision in Varsity Brands Inc. et al. v. Star Athletica LLC stands to impact how brands in all sorts of industries can protect design-based copyrights. But exactly how remains to be seen.
Womble Carlyle IP attorneys Stephen Shaw and Laura Kees take an in-depth look at the Varsity Brands decision and its repercussions in a new article in World Trademark Review. In the decision, the Supreme Court ruled that visual design elements on cheerleading uniforms, including chevrons and stripes, are eligible for copyright protection.
Click here to read "In Varsity Brands v Star Athletica the US Supreme Court Both Provided Answers and Raised More Questions Surrounding Design-Related Copyright" in World Trademark Review (subscription required).
Also, click here to read Shaw and Kees' related client alert on the topic, "Knock-Offs" Beware: SCOTUS Makes a Fashion-Forward Decision.
Stephen Shaw is an experienced copyright, trademark and patent attorney who helps clients resolve intellectual property disputes and protect their trademarks, copyrights and patents.
Laura Kees concentrates her practice on trademark and copyright portfolio management, counseling clients on the risk associated with adoption of proposed names and marks, evaluating when applications for domestic and/or international registration should be filed and advising how and when to maintain those registrations.
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