For those English language lovers, the word “synecdoche” (pronounced si-NEK-də-kee) is a figure of speech in which a word is used to represent the whole of something else. Thus, the city of Hollywood, California represents, figuratively, the whole of the…
Introduction In the year 2015 alone, the United States fashion industry generated over $343 billion in revenue.[1] Fashion is not just a business—it is also a respected art form in the United States.[2] Despite the economic and artistic significance of…
In the last few years US patentability standards have remained unclear, and in some cases, become even more confusing. With the November election looming, a lame duck session following, and the signing of the TPP a few months prior, now…
In light of a recent FCC proposal to abrogate the exclusivity rules which prevent a cable provider from reproducing a program where a broadcaster has obtained exclusive rights, this post will discuss the history and justification of these rules. A.…
Lord and Taylor, Warner Brothers, and L’Oreal all have something in common. Each of these companies have employed “social media influencers” to advertise their products and brands to consumers on social media.[1] Social media influencers (“influencers”) tend to be described…
Diversity in comics is always important but currently it is a hot topic in the comic book industry and broader pop culture fandom discourse.[1] In the vein of a modern legacy of reintroducing characters of color in their own titles,[2]…
Football is by far America’s most popular sport.[1] The National Football League’s (“NFL”) revenue is projected to be $13.3 billion in the 2016 season,[2] and has grown by nearly 50% since 2010.[3] This is more than any of their competing…
No Man’s Sky is an action-adventure survival video game in which a player is free to explore an uncharted universe comprised of 18 quintillion planets, nearly each one unique with procedurally generated terrain, flora, and fauna.[1] The game, published by…
Apple is accustomed to being a controversial pioneer in the tech world. Yet, a patent it was recently awarded is garnering more than the usual interest, and not for positive reasons. The patent entitled “[s]ystems and methods for receiving infrared…
Derrick Rose was recently sued in federal civil court because he and two friends allegedly gang-raped a woman. A federal civil trial was held in California in which Jane Doe is suing Rose and his friends for sexual battery. The trial…
Is it unreasonable for deaf moviegoers to expect that song lyrics might be included in film captions and subtitles? On Wednesday, September 28, 2016, a California District court found that it was, when it granted summary judgment to a group…
On September 29, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to revisit a controversial issue surrounding the federal government’s ban on offensive trademarks, specifically whether this ban violates free speech under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Federal…
