Blackletter

How do you enforce control in a post-COVID world?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap is joined by Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. In this second part of the three-segment interview, Marc and Tom discuss the challenges that Marc faced as a federal workforce leader in the aftermath of COVID-19. As a senior executive and manager to many employees, Marc struggled with enforcing in-office work to ensure smooth collaboration and safety in the aviation industry. He also describes challenges regarding his responsibility to practice civic engagement in his profession as a lawyer and leader.

Listen to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to learn more about Marc's professional journey through law and government. And check back next week when Marc concludes his interview by providing listeners his top pieces of advice learned throughout his career.

Adidas failed to show luxury brand Thom Browne's use of stripes on its clothing infringed the sportswear giant's signature three-stripe trademark. Adidas, which was seeking almost $8 million in disgorgement and damages, indicated that it may push back on the decisions. The designer’s lawyers suggested Adidas was an affordable sports brand worn by people all over the world, while Thom Browne is a high-end fashion company with catwalk collections and celebrity clientele. Thom Browne said confusion between the companies' designs was unlikely because they "operate in different markets, serving different customers, and offer their products at strikingly different price points." According to the documents of the case, Adidas has filed more than 200 settlement agreements and engaged in more than 90 court battles in relation to its trademark since 2008.

Would you change your career path to contribute to your society?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap interviews Marc Nichols, the Chief Counsel for the Federal Aviation Administration. In his role, Marc provides legal advice for the FAA and works closely with professionals on issues of national significance to the aviation industry. He shares with listeners his career path and developmental milestones that led to his current involvement in the world of politics and public service. Additionally, Mark explains the factors that drove him to accept the President's appointment and the changes he made in his desire to contribute to society through his profession.

Listen to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to learn more about Marc's professional journey through law and government. And check back next week when Marc continues his three-episode interview and discusses the challenges he faces in his high-pressure role.

This week the Federal Trade Commission proposed a sweeping rule that would ban the use of non-compete provisions in employment contracts and require employers to nullify any existing non-compete clauses within six months. Listen in as Tom discusses the proposal and how it could increase wages and expand career opportunities for Americans.

How do you report on controversial law topics while remaining impartial for your audience?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap sits down with Jeremy Conrad, writer for the Washington DC Bar Journal. As a former practicing lawyer and now a full-time committed journalist in the field of law, Jeremy has a unique perspective on the topics he reports on. He explains what it is like being able to take a step back to report on situations that once would have affected him in his previous profession. Jeremy also dives into the complexity of producing content about controversial law topics without excluding parts of his audience.

Tune in to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear Jeremy discuss his experiences reporting on hard-hitting legal topics and his advice for aspiring legal journalists. And catch up on previous podcast episodes available on the Blackletter website!

What is fair use? If you are a content creator and wonder if you can use copyrighted media, Tom digs into the US copyright law and in particular the fair use doctrine that allows brief excerpts of copyright material without the need for permission from or payment to the copyright holder. Tune in to hear more on why we are able to use these copyrighted works of art on this episode!

What role have patents played throughout history in shaping our society as we know it today?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap sits down with Robert Greenspoon, an attorney at the Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig law firm, to discuss patents and how they have become integral to the progression and formation of our society. Rob provides examples of patents representing the history of invention from 100 years ago to the present and discusses how they are relevant to today’s current affairs. For this podcast, we suggest that listeners take the time to watch the video version of the show, as Rob provides visuals that give context to the topics and themes of today’s eye-opening episode. So tune in and watch — you won’t want to miss it!

Check out this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear Rob share his expertise on the importance of patents in shaping our society. And to achieve the full experience of this episode, visit the Blackletter website to watch the video version!

Mariah Carey is synonymous with Christmas, however, the US Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled against the pop diva’s legal attempt to trademark the name “Queen of Christmas.”

The decision means that the regal holiday monikers can be used by another singer, Elizabeth Chan, who says she’s “the world’s only full-time pop Christmas recording artist.”

Tune in as Tom gets into the Christmas Spirit by discussing the decision, the trademark process and what it means for monopolizing Christmas monikers.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a parody dog toy called “Bad Spaniels” is entitled to protection from trademark infringement and dilution-by-tarnishment claims by Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc.

A previous decision that said the dog toymaker was entitled to First Amendment protection because the dog toy was an expressive work, made it more difficult for Jack Daniel’s to win on the infringement claim and barred the company’s claim for dilution by tarnishment.

What advice should entrepreneurs follow if they are trying to get started in the medical cannabis business?

On the Blackletter podcast this week, host Tom Dunlap concludes his three-part series with Kevin Goldberg from Green Leaf Medical and Barney Goodman, his attorney from Dunlap Bennett Ludwig. Together they discuss the entrepreneurial practices that they recommend for anyone looking to start a new venture within the medical cannabis business. This sector requires specific regulations and policies, and requires an efficient approach to succeed within this line of business. But with Barney’s support Kevin launched his business successfully in this field, and together they share the entrepreneurial tips and tricks that they learned along the way.

Listen to this episode of the Black Letter Podcast to hear Kevin and Barney provide their best business advice for listeners looking to turn over a new leaf in the cannabis industry. And if you missed the first segments of this three-part interview, catch up on these episodes available on the Blackletter website!