Intellectual Properties and U.S Laws
A recent intellectual property case concerned a famous entertainment company fighting against two American celebrity nightclub operators for its trademark rights.
Some background
Kraze entertainment had a license agreement with Pan Av and a lease agreement with MBS, both of which are operators of American celebrity night clubs. Pan Av terminated the license agreement which stated that Kraze had the exclusive right to use the Pan Av trademark. MBS subsequently cancelled the lease agreement with Kraze.
Kraze’s legal fight
Now Kraze has filed a case against MBS, Pan Av, and their shareholders. As per the suit filed, Kraze seeks a court order for the alleged termination of the license agreement on trademarks to be deemed unlawful and invalid. Also Kraze has stated that MBS acted unreasonably by cancelling its lease with Kraze on very short notice.
Trademark laws govern issues related to trademark infringements. When problems occur, one should consult an experienced and skilled trademark and patent lawyer. Trademarks and patents are intellectual properties that need close legal attention. Failure to do so can affect reputations and profits.
Licensing agreements are important legal document since they define the terms and conditions of any deal involving the related parties. Hence it is essential to devise a strong license agreement with the help of a lawyer experienced with U.S trademark laws.
If you intend to profit from your intellectual property rights, ensure you draft a proper license agreement with fair terms and clauses.
Libel Disputes in Virginia Beach
Defamation and libel are serious issues that call for immediate legal attention, before your reputation is irreparably damaged. Libel is a false verbal or written statement that can damage your reputation and/or livelihood.
If you are facing libel in Virginia, get help from a Virginia Beach libel attorney.
Libel suits are complex, as much time and effort must be spent on proving the defamation. It is important to ensure that your attorney has a clear understanding of Virginia defamation law.
Important aspects of defamation are:
- A statement must be factual but false (i.e., opinions are not considered defamation).
- The identity and standing of the person towards whom the statement was targeted also comes into play.
- Context is also important in deciding what constitutes defamation. What is defamatory in one situation may not be defamatory in another.
One can seek compensation on the following in defamation litigation:
- Damage of reputation in terms of your professional status and the society in which you live.
- Embarrassment and mental anguish.
- Any financial losses, like potential income.
There is no set cap for damages as per defamation law in Virginia. However, for punitive damages for the limit is $350,000. Get legal assistance from Virginia libel lawyers if you believe you are a victim of libel.
Skanska Pays Out Big Settlement in Minority Lawsuit
Skanska is one of the nation’s largest construction companies and has been involved in numerous public works projects in New York over the past 10 years. Criminal fraud charges brought against a subsidiary of the company, Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc., were recently averted when it agreed to pay $19.6 million.
According to William K. Rashbaum of the New York Times in his article, Contractor Agrees to Pay $19.6 Million in Fraud Case, the company will no longer face continued criminal scrutiny for years of alleged fraud by agreeing to the settlement and signing a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, Preet Bahara.
The allegations would have jeopardized a current $300 million bid that Skanska made on a subway project that is set to be go before the Metropolitan Transportation Board. Skanska is the low bidder and will presumably win approval for the project.
Skanska had been accused of using a front company, Environmental Energy Associates, to evade compliance with government requirements that a percentage of minority or women-owned contractorsor those certified as disadvantagedbe hired in public works projects.
An unsealed indictment alleges that the front company, whose owners still face mail and wire fraud charges, was a sham with no employees and that the actual work had been performed by the general contractor or by other companies. Skanska had allegedly used Environmental Energy Associates on 10 public works projects.
The use of front companies to evade minority hiring requirements on public works projects is widespread in the construction industry.
Information in this post gathered in association with New York social security disability lawyers
Sixth Avenue Electronics Reaches $9.6 Million Settlement with GE
A large electronics retailer, Sixth Avenue Electronics, has reached a settlement agreement with the commercial financing division of General Electric over its failure to make $9.6 million in payments.
In an article from NJ.Com, Sixth Avenue Electronics reaches settlement with GE in $9.6M lawsuit, citing Leslie Kwoh of The Star-Ledger, it was noted that the Springfield, N.J. based company reached the accord within three weeks after GE filed the suit in U.S. District Court.
Sixth Avenue Electronics was started in 1984 by the Temiz family of New York City and has stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
The complaint had alleged that GE Commercial Distribution Financial had agreed in 2007 to finance the company’s inventory and use their goods as collateral. When Sixth Avenue Electronics defaulted, GE claimed it could seize the company’s inventory at 18 of its retail and storage locations.
The retailer has closed outlets in Deptford, Woodland Park and two other locations in Pennsylvania. The company website has also deleted mention of two stores that are in Livingston and in Delaware, and are presumably closing or in the process of closing them as well. The chain has nine outlets remaining.
Sixth Avenue Electronics still faces similar lawsuits in Delaware and New York. The New York complaint was ruled ineligible for arbitration. There is also a suit filed in Pennsylvania involving the publisher of the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Daily News over the retailer's alleged failure to pay nearly $532,000 in advertising costs.
Information in this post gathered in association with a Washington County social security disability attorney
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