The Coming EV Revolution

This post was co-authored by Brad Thompson and Nicole Candelori.

“Disruption” is a term that tends to be used casually when attempting to describe an industry or technological change on the horizon. Although the term may be overused in many contexts, it is hard to formulate a better word to describe the looming disruption that is certain to emanate from the increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).

There are numerous projections as to the anticipated volume and rate of movement away from internal combustion engines (ICEs) and towards EVs. According to one of those projections – a 2018 Bloomberg New Energy Finance report – global EV sales are expected to increase almost tenfold in just eight years: from 1.1 million in 2017 to 11 million in 2025, and later to 30 million in 2030. [1] Regardless of whether this forecast proves to be accurate on the timeline predicted, one trend line is undeniable: EVs are coming, and at some point relatively soon, the ICE will soon become a dying breed of vehicle transportation on the road. Continue reading “The Coming EV Revolution”

IP Profile: Solar Panel Mounting Company Sollega, Inc.

This post was co-authored by Justus Getty and Nicole Candelori.

  • Sollega, a provider of modular solar panel mounting solutions, has taken steps to protect its intellectual property. Those steps include federally registering a trademark and obtaining a U.S. Patent.

San Francisco-based Sollega, Inc., specializes in the design and manufacturing of ballasted commercial flat-roof and ground mount racking solutions. While much of the focus of the solar industry has been on the rapidly decreasing prices for solar panels (for example, see our earlier post here), Sollega is looking to reduce the cost associated with a different part of the solar equation: installation. Sollega states that its modular mounting racks with pre-set inclines offer the potential to more quickly install solar panels and thus achieve substantial savings in labor costs. Continue reading “IP Profile: Solar Panel Mounting Company Sollega, Inc.”

Why Corporation Cannot Register Its Trade Dress for Its Helical Turbine

  • A helical wind turbine design by Change Wind Corporation was denied registration as a trademark because the design was deemed functional rather than ornamental, and Change Wind was unable to prove that customers knew the source of the design.
  • It can be difficult to register product designs as trademarks once the features of the design are the subject of a patent application.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied an application by wind turbine manufacturer Change Wind Corporation to register its helical turbine design (shown below) as a trademark. The denial likely ends Change Wind’s quest to be granted exclusive rights to the registration of this specific design. Continue reading “Why Corporation Cannot Register Its Trade Dress for Its Helical Turbine”

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The opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author and are not to be construed as legal advice.

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