IP Branding & Social Media

In 2017, Coleman Greig published a piece concerning a dispute between Aussie brand Bega and US giant Kraft, over the use of the 'peanut butter trade dress' of the iconic peanut butter jars with yellow lids. This blog comes as an update to that article, following the handing down of the decision in Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC v Bega Cheese Limited (No 8) [2019] FCA 593.

Is it possible to claim the design of a glass box?  This question hit the music world earlier this month, when in early November 2018, soon after Kanye West and Kid Cudi performed their set at the Camp Flog Gnaw festival in LA, Grammy award winning New Zealand musician Lorde took to her Instagram account to accuse Kanye West and Kid Cudi of stealing her set design: a suspended glass box.  

While “copying may be the sincerest form of flattery,” social media ensures that “cheaters never prosper.” Hopeful First Lady, Melania Trump's recent speech on the opening night of the Republican National Convention raised some eyebrows…

Proposed amendments to Australia’s Copyright laws have been making headlines in recent weeks. According to a leaked copy of its discussion paper, the Australian federal government is proposing that internet service providers (ISPs), such as Telstra and Optus take measures to discourage or reduce online copyright infringement. If such changes are implemented Australia would have some of the most stringent anti-piracy measures in the Western world.

We know that it’s common practice to copy photos from Google Images, but just because everyone is doing it doesn’t make it right. Whether you are posting images to your blog, Facebook, or any other social media platform, you need to be certain that you are allowed to use that image or you may be infringing on someone else’s copyright.