Week8 EOC2: Bratz Brawl

Brats Brawl

“In yet another twist in the epic Barbie-vs.-Bratz brawl, a U.S. District Court slapped Mattel Inc. with $88 million in damages after tossing out its claims that rival MGA Entertainment stole the idea for its blockbuster Bratz dolls, an embarrassment for the blond teen queen, to say the least.”
 Barbie vs. Bratz: In a Doll-Eat-Doll World, Lawsuits Go On - TIME http://content.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,2067001,00.html#ixzz2lJFIF4pO

“MGA said it intends to appeal the judge's order and Mattel said it remains open to "all viable options" as the matter moves through the courts.” http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/12/11/bratz.vs.barbies/

At this point, neither the American Girl Doll nor Bratz pose much of a threat to Mattel, which still has over 16 percent market share. So why would Mattel continue to pay huge legal fees to fight this battle? According to toy industry analyst Sean McGowan, it's not about the money. "From Mattel's perspective, it was very important for them to send a message," he says.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/barbie-v-bratz-never-ending-court-battle

I believe that changing the style of your toy to appear to be the style of someone else’s toy should be acceptable.  You see it in the world around you every day.  An example of this would be how some car companies are harder to recognize just by the cars appearance.  If you want to be noticed for becoming the first to have that doll design, then say it in your commercial or something.  

Week 8 EOC1: 10 Questions

                                                                                           10 Questions

1.       Is there more than one type of intellectual property protection?

2.       How original does my work have to be for it to be considered my own?

3.       Can I protect multiple pieces of work under the same registration?

4.       If I was planning to register my intellectual property where do you recommend I go?

5.       Are there ways to protect your work without needing paperwork?

6.       Can you patent a specific idea for an application for a phone?

7.       How long does your copyright last?

8.       After contacting a lawyer about someone stealing your work, what is the next step for me?

9.       What rights do I have as the intellectual property owner?

1.        Is my registration or copyright recognized all over the world or just in the country it was created in?

Week7 EOC: Lawyers

• John C. Lambertsen             6900 Westcliff Drive, Suite 104, Las Vegas, NV 89145 --702-997-1732

• Thomas R.C. Wilson      2300 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 1000, Las Vegas, NV 89102 --702-873-4100
  
  
  Watson Rounds                        5371 Kietzke Lane Reno, NV 89511 – 775-324-4100
  
  
  Keith E. Gregory                       631 s 10^th street, Las Vegas, Nv 89101 – 702 979-4730
  
  
  Randal D. Shimon     5510 S. Fort Apache Rd., Suite 21 Las Vegas, NV 89148—702-312-4175
  
  
  John Craig Courtney  830 Las Vegas BoulevardSouth Las Vegas, NV, 89101-6723—702 382-4044
  
  
  Ed Chansky    3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 NorthLas Vegas, NV 89169—702-599-8016
  
  
  William J. Wray        3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 North Las Vegas, NV 89169—702-938-6873
  
  
  Jennifer Ko Craft 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 North Las Vegas, NV 89169-702-796-5555
  
  
  Robert A. Steller 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 400 North Las Vegas, NV 89169-702-228-7717

Week 6: EOC Supreme court prayer

"The justices have struggled for decades to come up with a coherent set of rules for prayers conducted at government forums. Past decisions have allowed public bodies, including Congress, state legislatures and city councils, to open their meetings with prayers, but the justices have also ruled that public officials may not take actions that appear to endorse a specific set of religious beliefs."

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-court-prayer-20131107,0,4489674.story#axzz2jzH1J3SZ

"Two local women brought suit against Greece, New York, officials, objecting that the monthly public sessions on government open with invocations they say have been overwhelmingly Christian in nature over the years."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/06/us/supreme-court-board-meeting-prayers/

“The two residents filed suit and a trial court ruled in the town's favor, finding that the town did not intentionally exclude non-Christians. It also said that the content of the prayer was not an issue because there was no desire to proselytize or demean other faiths.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/06/supreme-court-wrestling-with-prayer-at-ny-town-meetings/

I personally believe that it is wrong to publically pray. The reason I believe this is because we know everyone has their own beliefs and own religion.   It may offend someone that has a belief about there being no gods when someone brings up the word god. It isn’t too hard to keep your beliefs to yourself, or share it with those you know believe the same thing, but when there is a question about someone else believing something different, you should respect them and don’t bother them with your own beliefs.