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You came up with a clever brand name in a foreign language—great! But did you know it might be refused by the USPTO? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down what a doctrine is, how trademark examiners apply it, and other important considerations for choosing foreign-language marks.
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Continue reading The Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents: What It Means for Your Brand
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Can you use a celebrity’s voice or image in your work? What about AI-generated versions? On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley explore the right of publicity—how it protects names, likenesses, voices, and what happens when you cross the line.
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Continue reading Publicity Rights and the Law – Using Real People in Your Work
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Who owns the rights when you co-create something? It’s not always as simple as you think. On this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley dig into:Continue reading Who Owns What – Understanding Copyright in Collaborative Projects
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Creators, beware: just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s fair game. In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down one of the most misunderstood areas of copyright law—fair use.
Continue reading What Is Fair Use and Why Does It Matter? Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley dive into Pepperdine University v. Netflix, a trademark showdown over the use of the name “Waves” in the Netflix series Running Point. After Pepperdine’s attempt to block the series’ release was denied under the Rogers test, the university is back—this time arguing that the Jack Daniel’s Supreme Court decision changes everything.
Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel.
Continue reading Sinking the Rogers Test? What Pepperdine’s Lawsuit Could Mean for Hollywood
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If your company relies on online reviews, influencer partnerships, or digital marketing strategies, it’s important to be aware of FTC Rules and the distinctions between real reviews and paid ads. Scott Hervey and Jessica Marlow discuss the dos and don’ts of consumer reviews on this featured episode of The Briefing.
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Continue reading Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts (Featured)
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What happens when a business built on a celebrity’s name no longer controls the name itself? In this episode of The Briefing, attorneys Scott Hervey and Jessica Marlow break down the Nicklaus Companies v. GBI decision and what it means for venture funds, PE firms, and brand-driven businesses.
They discuss how Jack Nicklaus was able to legally walk away from the company bearing his name—and start competing—because the company failed to secure critical rights to his name, image, and likeness.
Scott and Jessica examine the key legal documents that every investor should review when financing a business tied to personal branding, and the structures that can help prevent this kind of brand exodus. Whether you’re a creator behind a growing company, venture financing an influencer, a sports icon, or a lifestyle mogul, this is a must-listen for anyone putting money into a business that leverages a personal brand.
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Continue reading Who Owns Jack Nicklaus? Lessons for The Creator Economy From a Brand Battle
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After nearly 30 years of litigation, a federal court has canceled General Cigar’s U.S. trademarks for COHIBA cigars — all because of a little-known treaty and a Cuban brand once favored by Fidel Castro. What does this mean for U.S. trademark law and the future of the COHIBA brand? Tune in to this week’s episode of The Briefing as Scott Hervey and Jessica Corpuz unpack this high-stakes decision.
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Continue reading Trademark Smoked: The Fall of General Cigar’s COHIBA Registration
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A class action lawsuit has been filed against ALO Yoga and several influencers for failing to disclose that various social media campaigns were actually paid ads. Weintraub attorneys Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler break down this lawsuit and what brands should do to avoid costly FTC violations like this in the future.
Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel.
Scott previously discussed the risks of social media marketing and FTC compliance in a two-part series with IP attorney Jessica Marlow. Tune in to episode one and episode two now.
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Is traditional Hollywood facing an existential crisis? Deloitte’s 2025 Digital Media Trends report reveals a massive shift in how Gen Z and millennials consume content. Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler break down the data and explore what this means for studios, creators, and the future of storytelling on this episode of The Briefing.
Watch this episode on the Weintraub YouTube channel.
Continue reading The Future of TV? A 2025 Digital Media Trends Analysis