Law expert says Buc-ee’s faces uphill battle in Beaver’s Mini Mart suit; WHIO, August 6, 2026

  

Megan Finke, WHIO.com and Xavier Hershovitz, WHIO; Law expert says Buc-ee’s faces uphill battle in Beaver’s Mini Mart suit

"Hershovitz talked with University of Michigan law professor Jessica Litman. She focuses on intellectual property law. 

“Trademark infringement requires the trademark owner to prove that the marks are sufficiently similar that consumers are likely to be confused,” Litman said. 

She said Buc-ee’s has filed several lawsuits against businesses for copyright infringement.

“When Buc-ee’s started a national expansion, it started filing trademark suits against other convenience stores attached to gas stations that it saw in the way of its expansion, and it’s been something of a bully,” Litman said. 

When looking at the two logos, Litman said she finds it unlikely that it would “be able to prove a likelihood of confusion.”

But she said these lawsuits are very expensive. 

While she believes no judge or jury would rule in Buc-ee’s favor, getting to that point can be tough for small businesses. 

“A number of businesses have decided that it’s way too expensive to go to trial on this, and have settled by agreeing to change their neighbor logo,” she said."

From the first U.S. patent to the next 250 years of American innovation; United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), August 4, 2026 1 PM EDT

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ; From the first U.S. patent to the next 250 years of American innovation

"Join the USPTO as we commemorate the 236th anniversary of the first U.S. patent and celebrate 250 years of American innovation. Join us virtually on August 4, 2026, from 1-2 p.m. ET. 

What you will learn:

• The history of the first U.S. patent
• How the patent system works today
• Resources available to inventors and small businesses
• How American inventors have shaped the nation over the past 250 years

On July 31, 1790, the United States granted the first U.S. patent to Samuel Hopkins for an improved process for making potash. This patent, signed by George Washington, was the first of nearly 13 million patents the U.S. government has granted.

This program will connect that historic milestone to the present day. Speakers will explore the origins of the patent system, how it supports innovation today, and how inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses can use USPTO resources.  

This event is part of the agency’s efforts to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and highlight the important role of intellectual property in our nation’s growth."

Senators aim to protect small businesses from foreign IP theft with new bill; CNBC, July 27, 2023

 Chelsey Cox, CNBC; Senators aim to protect small businesses from foreign IP theft with new bill

"The American IP Defense and Enforcement Advancement Act, or the IDEA Act, is a bipartisan response to large losses business owners face each year due to IP theft. Misuse of IP has cost the U.S. economy an estimated $225 billion to $600 billion each year, according to a 2017 report from the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property that was cited by the lawmakers.

If passed, the IDEA Act will reauthorize a state and local law enforcement intellectual property enforcement program at $25 million per year from 2024-29. The program – which supports state, local and tribal jurisdictions in preventing and reducing, investigating, and prosecuting IP theft crimes – was initially authorized for 2009-13.

The program, called PRO-IP, funded enforcement infrastructure in Austin, Texas, and Jackson, Mississippi, as well as a sheriff’s program in Chicago. There would be particular emphasis on a list of countries under watch by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. They include China, Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia — areas where IP theft against U.S. small businesses is particularly rampant."

More small businesses are bringing claims to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), according to a new report.; Scottish Legal News, February 26, 2018

Scottish Legal News; More small businesses are bringing claims to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), according to a new report.

"More small businesses are bringing claims to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), according to a new report.

The number of claims heard by IPEC last year reached a record high...

“Growing numbers of technology companies, in particular, are using the court, as IP will often represent their most valuable asset,” it states."

First Intellectual Property Business Clinic June 22, 23, St. Maarten; Daily Herald, June 16, 2017

Daily Herald; First Intellectual Property Business Clinic June 22, 23, St. Maarten:

"Foundation INFOBIZZ, Bureau for Intellectual Property (BIP) St. Maarten and the Department of Economics, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT) will host the first Intellectual Property Business Clinic in St. Maarten at the Holland House Beach Hotel on June 22 and 23, from 8:00am to 4:00pm.  The two-day clinic is supported by the European Commission through COSME. Founder of IP (Intellectual Property) Exchange Caribbean Kayanne Anderson, who is also an intellectual property specialist and lawyer, will facilitate the event.

Anderson has worked for several governments in the region assisting them in building national brands and how to best protect that. During the IP clinic, one of the key aspects that will be shared is how to best use intellectual property to scale and grow a business while building assets within the business."

Is a picture really worth £1,000?, London Guardian, 11/27/08

Via London Guardian: Is a picture really worth £1,000?
A church and small businesses are just some of those accusing picture agencies of using heavy-handed tactics when pursuing payment:

"Dozens of small businesses and charities tell similar stories. On the online forums run by the Federation of Small Businesses, copyright infringement blows away every other subject. Many of those posting on the federation's forum have tried to do everything right; they aren't arguing about copyright. It's the enforcement tactics they find objectionable...

In the UK they'd struggle to make these amounts stick," he says. "UK law is only concerned with restoring the situation had licensing been correctly obtained. The courts don't like to be used as a means of extortion."

Drake says: "I understand the difficulty companies like Getty have and photographers have - they have a product that needs to be protected. But where is the Getty publicity campaign? Why aren't they issuing press releases and education to remind people that these images are not to be used?"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/nov/27/internet-photography