Congratulations to our winners!
Pro Bono Legal Services to an Individual
Florencia Rosati, Estudio Beccar Varela, Buenos Aires
Ms. Rosati, from Estudio Beccar Varela, is heavily involved in pro bono work through her firm in Buenos Aires. Most recently, she has completed Trademark prosecution work for “NUEVOS AIRES” a foundation devoted to contributing to the economic, social and environmental development of the community, by means of the promotion and diffusion of socially responsible business values and practices. (http://nuevosairesac.wordpress.com/). She also is working on Trademark prosecution work for “THE GLOBAL FOODBANKING NETWORK” (http://www.foodbanking.org/site/PageServer?pagename=deploymenthome).
Florencia also serves as the General Counsel to Mr. Silvio Velo (http://www.silviovelo.com/). Mr Velo is the captain of the Argentinean Soccer team for blind players. Silvio is blind and Mrs. Rosati has advised him in his relationship with his managers, regarding the drafting of IP contracts with them. She also serves as the General IP Counsel to “RED COMUNIDADES RURALES” (http://www.comunidadesrurales.org/). This is a network that works to organize efforts and resources to support development of rural workers. This counseling is related to the “use of image” issues.
Florencia's passion for trademark work within the Argentinean community is exemplified by her constant involvement in these pro bono cases, among others.
Pro Bono Legal Services to a Member Organization
Morgan Lewis & Bockius, Washington D.C.
Kristin Altoff, Anita Polott and Kevin Fee of Morgan Lewis & Bockius in Washington, D.C. handled a matter pro bono for a small Off-Broadway theater in Brooklyn, New York, by the name of The Brick Theater. This theater was sued for trademark infringement in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York by a larger arts organization called Brooklyn Information Arts & Culture, which went by the acronym BRIC. BRIC alleged that The Brick Theater's use of its name was likely to cause confusion and insisted that it change its name. The Brick Theater commenced use of its name shortly after Brooklyn Information & Culture started using the acronym allegedly as a trademark. The Brick Theater successfully argued that BRIC was a descriptive acronym (an organization located in Brooklyn that provided information on arts and culture) and BRIC could not prove the acronym had achieved secondary meaning -- and hence protectable trademark status -- before The Brick Theater commenced use of its name.