Moritz Legal Information Blog

The jeweler Tiffany ® may seem like one of those companies that regularly pops up in the news suing companies left and right for trademark infringement and related issues , but Tiffany ®  is not alone. Other companies are notorious for going after alleged trademark infringers. (Think Mattel ® and all the litigation you've heard about over the years related to Barbie ® .) Sometimes it seems a company will sue for anything, but did you know there's actually an explanation rooted in the law rather than simply a desire to crush the competition? The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) does not pursue alleged infringers on behalf of trademark registrants, and failure to police one's own mark could, in a worst case scenario, result in the registrant losing its trademark. That's because a failure to make others aware that you own the mark (i.e., a failure to police your mark) may be evidence that you've abandoned your mark . (Refer to footnote three on page three of

Amish bishop Samuel Mullet and fifteen of his followers were sentenced last Friday for their hair- and beard-cutting hate crimes against perceived enemies of their breakaway sect.  Mullet received a sentence of fifteen years, while his followers, including three of his sons, received lower sentences ranging from a year and a day to seven years. Some past coverage at the Moritz Legal Information Blog FBI Press Release Cleveland Plain Dealer Sentencing Law and Policy Huffington Post

The U.S. Supreme Court is kind of a big thing to many lawyers (and Americans). Did you know there's a whole blog devoted the Court? SCOTUSblog (an acronym for Supreme Court of the United States) is a journalistic site that has comprehensive, up-to-the-minute news reporting on all Supreme Court activities. It also posts pleadings and opinions in cases if you ever need a quick and easy way to track those documents down. Bloomberg Law and SCOTUSblog have now partnered together to offer a contest that could win you up to $5,000. Pick up to four of your closes Moritz law pals, register as a team by February 28 , then try to outsmart the experts at predicting the outcomes of judicial decisions this coming March. The contest site offers some research suggestions and tips, but feel free to stop by the library for additional suggestions on resources that might help you win!

The February 2013 bar exam is just around the corner (Feb. 26-28), but there is no reason to panic. If you've studied and practiced, you'll be fine. It may be the worst thing you'll ever have to do, but you'll survive. People do it all the time. One word of caution, however: the bar examiners take the time limits very seriously. Here in Ohio, the Supreme Court recently denied admission to a test-taker who continued writing for 30-60 seconds after time was called on several questions. The good news for those of you sitting for the exam shortly is that this is an easily avoidable mistake. Trust that you prepared appropriately, and you should do just fine. For those of you already contemplating the July exam, we have a research guide on the subject. The guide includes helpful books and strategies, practice tools for the multi-state portion, and links to past essay exams from the Ohio State Bar. Good luck!

Effective April 26th of this year, young athletes in Ohio must immediately be pulled from a game if they exhibit symptoms of a concussion. Sparked by increasing awareness of the long-ranging consequences of concussions, H.B. 143 requires education for coaches and referees, and states that players with concussions may not return to practice or games unless cleared by a physician. More about H.B. 143 Guidelines at the Ohio Department of Health Columbus Dispatch Akron Legal News

"A new American hero is born" announces Lowering the Bar .  The hero?  A hitchhiker known only as "Kai," who was picked up by a driver who declared himself to be Jesus before driving his car into a utility worker.  When two women hurried over to help, the driver attacked one of them, and Kai fended him off with a hatchet.  You can also see the local news report at Lowering the Bar , which is well worth it because of Kai's dramatic reenactment.  The utility worker was rushed to the hospital for surgery, but his injuries are not life-threatening. Time : Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker Defeats Racist Jesus

I just got my Ohio drivers license, and believe it or not, I had to take the driving portion and the written portion of the test. (Never let your license expire lest you face my fate!) In the process of prepping for the written portion of the exam, which all out-of-state license holders must take if they need an Ohio license, I learned a few things about Ohio driving laws. In perusing the Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws , I learned the following: (1) it is permissible to take roadkill home (be it deer or other creature) so long as you report it "to a game protector or other law enforcement officer within 24 hours;" (2) you can only make a left turn on red if you are turning from a one-way street to a one-way street; and (3) "Persons under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both are prohibited from walking on highways." Knowing the traffic laws can keep you safe, but they're also important if you're ever a defense attorney. Your knowledge of the poin