Wednesday, December 30, 2020
While most Americans are likely aware that President Donald Trump signed a pandemic relief and government spending bill into law on Dec. 27, 2020 (the “Omnibus Bill”),
[i] it is important for those who have intellectual property assets to understand that tucked away into this nearly 5,600-page legislation are laws impacting copyrights, trademarks, and patents. Despite receiving only limited scrutiny before becoming law, the copyright and trademark laws in particular could have a profound impact on protection and enforcement of these assets.
Copyrights
The Omnibus Bill impacts copyright law in the following general ways: It establishes a copyright small-claims court within the U.S. Copyright Office to adjudicate disputes valued at $30,000 or fewer in damages, and it creates felony criminal penalties for unauthorized commercial streaming.
EDWARDSVILLE An Illinois attorney, who was previously sanctioned for his conduct during litigation, and his client are accused of illegally acquiring a private database to benefit their case.
Eagle Trust Fund, a voluntary unincorporated association, by trustee John Schlafly, and the Phyllis Schlafly Revocable Trust, by its trustee John Schlafly, filed a complaint Dec. 2 in the Third Judicial Circuit for Madison County against Elizabeth Miller, Anne Schlafly Cori, Erick Solverud and Spencer Fane Britt & Browne, alleging violation of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act, civil conspiracy and other claims.
According to the complaint, Eagle Trust Fund maintained the Schlafly Database, which contains the private information of constituents and donors as well as the Schlafly Network, which is used for the Schlafly Network s fundraising. The plaintiffs claim the database is only accessed through a locked office on one protected computer at its Alton office.