Oregon’s Workplace Fairness Act In late March, Governor Kate Brown signed into law a bill that amends Oregon's Workplace Fairness Act to further restrict what an employer is permitted to request in certain settlement or separation agreements with employees, effective January 1, 2023. Among other things, the Workplace Fairness Act (WFA) currently restricts employers from requesting confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions [...]
You’re angry. Your employer fired you, or your neighbor plays loud music every day, or you slipped walking into the grocery store. Should you sue? Maybe not. Before filing a lawsuit, there are a number of things you should think carefully about, including these risks. 1. No matter how good your case appears to be, you might lose. 2. Even [...]
Gruyère cheese has been made in Switzerland since 1115 and in France for hundreds of years. Several years ago, Swiss and French industry groups filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office to register GRUYERE (no accent mark) as a certification mark for cheese originating in the Gruyère region of Switzerland and France. Switzerland and the EU have [...]
Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act Last week, President Biden signed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which became effective immediately, on March 3, 2022. This law amends the Federal Arbitration Act to give employees bound by arbitration agreements with their employers the right to sue over claims of sexual assault [...]
Last year, the US Department of Labor (DOL) collected $234 million in back wages for employees that it determined were not paid in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). That law, as well as the laws of most—if not all—states, classifies employees as either "exempt" or "nonexempt" from minimum wage and overtime provisions. Nonexempt employees are entitled to [...]
Our office often receives scam trademark and corporate notices through the US Postal Service. Because of the prevalence of such scams, you should always read what appear to be official notices extremely carefully. Scam requests typically look like invoices or letters, often containing false due dates or threats about loss of rights if you do not send payment now. Sometimes [...]
Did you know that your failure to retain all relevant materials after litigation is “reasonably anticipated” could result in you being fined or sanctioned by the court? You may even lose the case as a result of failure to preserve evidence. In one cautionary example, a federal court imposed a $10,000 fine on defendants who failed to preserve relevant text [...]
Choosing a trademark may be more difficult than you think. You might be focusing on the catchiness of the name, but there are legal considerations that should be considered as well, such as the possibility of infringing some other trademark. People often think that if they aren't aware of anyone else using the same trademark, it's okay. They may rely [...]
Do You Own the Copyright in Your Logo? You might not realize that your logo may be protected by both the copyright and trademark laws. A case filed last month provides a good reminder to be sure you own all necessary rights. Earlier this year, SweetWater Brewing Co. sued Ray "Scott" Fuss, the artist who created its rainbow-trout logo, in [...]
Have you conducted an intellectual property (IP) audit in the last year? If not, now is the time to get started. IP includes copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, patents, trade secrets and the like. In fact, it's called intellectual property since it involves products of the mind. An IP audit involves a systematic review of all IP you own, control, or [...]
