Hermés: Protect the Trademark or the Art?

In the first trial involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, trademark rights and a First Amendment defense, a jury in New York City earlier this month found an artist had violated the trademark rights of Hermés, the iconic French fashion house.

At issue was the artist’s NFT depictions of Hermés’ Birkin bags and his use of the BIRKIN mark in connection with his art. NFTs are digital depictions of art that reside not on walls or shelves of collectors but in the cloud, accessible via the owner’s computer.

Continue reading

Jim Astrachan Receives The Daily Record’s 2022 Icon Honors Award

Jim Astrachan - Intellectual Property Lawyer

Congratulations to our partner Jim Astrachan on being selected by The Daily Record as a 2022 Icon Honors recipient.

The Icon Honors recognizes Maryland business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership within and outside their fields. The honorees have moved their businesses and the state of Maryland forward by growing jobs and making a difference in the community.

Continue reading