How Do I Obtain a Copyright? INTRODUCTION TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Intellectual property is a dynamic area of law that continues to be at the forefront of innovation, and continues to develop. Intellectual property is the legal right to ideas, inventions, and creations in the artistic, literary, industrial, and scientific fields. It also covers symbols, names, images, designs, and models used in business. Intellectual property is distinguishable from physical property in that physical property is tangible whereas intellectual property does not have a physical presence and therefore cannot be touched or grasped. The three most common types of intellectual property are: (1) copyrights; (2) trademarks; and (3) patents. This blog focuses on the law surrounding copyrights. COPYRIGHT What is copyright? In simple terms, a copyright gives one the right to copy. A person that holds a copyright has the sole right to produce or reproduce a work or a substantial part of the work in any form. Copyright includes the right to perform the work or any substantial part of it. If a person’s work is unpublished, copyright entitles that person to publish the work or any substantial part of it. What does copyright protect? Copyright protects a person’s original artistic, dramatic, musical, and literary creations, and therefore prevents the creation from being legally copied, performed, or broadcast without the creator’s permission. It also protects software that is original. Importantly, copyright protects the expression of an idea, rather than protecting the idea itself. It is therefore unsurprising that copyright affects artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs, all of whom might express ideas in vastly different ways, but are nevertheless equally deserving of protection. Copyright commonly protects the following kinds of creative works: literary works, such as books, pamphlets, and computer programs; dramatic works, such as films, plays, screenplays, and scripts; musical works, such as musical compositions; and artistic works, such as paintings, drawings, and photographs. Copyright also protects sound recordings, radio waves, and performers’ performances. Why is it important to register one’s copyright? Copyright exists automatically once a person creates an original work or other subject-matter, provided certain conditions in the Copyright Act are met. A person’s creation thus receives some copyright protection even without registering it at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. However, when one registers its copyright and subsequently receives a certificate of registration, the certificate provides proof that the copyright exists and that the person registered is the owner of the copyright. Proof of copyright can help to prevent lengthy court disputes in the future. How long does copyright protection last? Copyright lasts for the life of the author, the remainder of the calendar year in which the author dies, and for 50 years following the end of that calendar year. This includes sound and video recordings, books, songs, poetry, and more. At Devry Smith Frank LLP we have experienced lawyers in all areas of law. If you are looking for a lawyer to obtain a copyright or have general questions pertaining to intellectual property law, please contact intellectual property lawyer, Frank Shostack at 416-446-5818 or frank.shostack@devrylaw.ca “This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” By Fauzan SiddiquiBlog, Intellectual PropertyJanuary 8, 2020September 30, 2020
Lululemon sues Under Armour Over a $52 Sports Bra By: Nicolas Di Nardo Two of the biggest athletic apparel companies are about to go to war, this time, in court and over a sports bra. Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU), a Vancouver-based athletic apparel company is suing rival, Under Armour (NYSE: UAA) for copying a sports bra design. The bra in question is Lulu’s Energy Bra, which retails for $52 USD, which Lulu claims UA has copied. The Under Armour products ranging from their Armour Strappy ($22-$29 USD) to their Armour Eclipse Low Impact which retails for $39 USD. The suit focuses on patent and trademark infringements, and Lulu claims “Under Armour’s unauthorized actions have caused an will continue to cause irreparable damage to Lululemon and its business.” Baltimore-based Under Armour responded in wake of the suit, only saying that they take “intellectual property rights of others very seriously.” These two companies are looking to take a piece of the growing market for sports bras, which currently accounts for more than $1 billion in U.S. sales a year. For Lululemon, securing their spot within any market is a key component of their business plan, seeing as they currently have over three dozen patents for their products, one of which happens to be for the sports bra in question. To secure the patent for this particular bra, they had to prove that the straps were an original design, and that it has ornamental value (as opposed to being strictly functional). Lawyers have said this occurrence is unusual in the fashion industry, especially since such companies would not usually go through the trouble and lengthy process of securing patents for their products. Intellectual property lawyer Laura Ganoza has said that, considering an article of clothing may only last a season or less, it is surprising that a company would go through a process that could take a year and a half just to get the patent. Another intellectual property lawyer from Minnesota chimed in, saying that if this case moves forward, he expects that it will focus predominantly on Lulu’s design. Lulu however, may not be too concerned with going to court with competitors. They took Calvin Klein to court back in 2012 in a dispute over a waistband design on its Astro Pant. The companies later settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. It seems that Lululemon is trying to intimidate its competitors, establish their dominance, stand their ground, and deter competitors from copying their designs. They are establishing themselves as a legitimate player in the bra industry by doing their research, and protecting their interests by obtaining rights through patents and trademarks, so that if a company were ever to copy a design, they open themselves up to legal problems. If this suit ends badly for Under Armour, it has the potential to skyrocket Lulu’s position in the sports bra market and bra industry, and also create more opportunity for start ups and online businesses to step in amid Under Armour’s potential downfall and loss of share in the market. There is also potential for Under Armour to have difficulty recovering and gaining back a percentage of the market, if while they suffer from this suit, the start ups, online businesses, Lululemon, and other major players take over completely. On the other hand, with Victoria Secret slowly declining, it could allow for Under Armour to leap back into the market. However, with it being an industry with $1 billion in sales in the U.S. alone, Under Armour should have no problem with their line of sports bras. As more develops and Under Armour responds, the fate of the Baltimore-based company will become clear. It is how they plan to recover that will seal their fate. Until then, we’ll have to wait and see. Devry Smith Frank LLP has a very experienced team of intellectual property lawyers that can assist companies and independent researchers with any of their intellectual property needs. For more information, please visit our intellectual property page and contact one of our lawyers today, or call us directly at 416-449-1400 for more information. “This article is intended to inform and entertain. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” By Fauzan SiddiquiBlog, Intellectual PropertyJuly 19, 2017June 22, 2020
