We are pleased to announce that Laurie Young has been published for a fourth time.  Her most recent publication “Earmuffs, Barbie Dolls and The Bourne Identity” was published in the Minnesota State Bar Association New Lawyers Section’s Hearsay publication.

Laurie also authored “Even Intellectual Property Law has Fictional Characters” which was published in the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association’s New Matter Newsletter, “Trade Dress Law: A Study of Selected Countries” published in the William Mitchell Intellectual Property Institute Research Series, and Trademark Law and Policy: 2006 Supplement, a supplement to Professor Kenneth Port’s textbook.

Jim Nikolai       (612) 392-7302           Jim.Nikolai@nm-iplaw.com

We are pleased to announce Jim Paige has been promoted to First Lieutenant in the Minnesota Army National Guard’s JAG Corp.  In this role Jim will advise soldiers in the Minnesota Army National Guard.  We congratulate Jim on this honor.

Jim Nikolai        (612) 392-7302              Jim.Nikolai@nm-iplaw.com

We are pleased to announce that Laurie Young, our second year associate, has been elected to be the next vice-chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association, New Lawyers’ Section.  In this role, Laurie will be supporting the chair and learning all of the responsibilities of being the chair of the HCBA New Lawyers’ Section.  Laurie will also sit on the executive committee of the Hennepin County Bar Association.  We congratulate Laurie for being elected to this position. 

Jim Nikolai       (612) 392-7302           Jim.Nikolai@nm-iplaw.com

A Nikolai & Mersereau associate, Laurie Young, has recently been published in two different online publications.  Laurie was first published in the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law journal, New Matter, in an article entitled “Even Intellectual Property Law Has Fictional Characters.”  This article is a brief study of the difference between trade dress infringement and patent design infringement.  The article is based upon a recent Federal Circuit decision Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v Swissa, Inc.  A copy of this first article can be found at: http://www.mipla.net/ricofiles/newsletters/December2008.pdf. 

Laurie’s second article was published in the William Mitchell College of Law publication Intellectual Property Research Series.  The article is entitled “Trade Dress Law: A Study of Select Countries.”  This article is a brief comparison of trade dress law, as it stood in 2007, in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia and Brazil.  The article compares the trade dress laws and court decisions of each of these countries and then comes to a conclusion as to whether global harmonization of trade dress law is ever going to be a possibility.  Along with the article is a video interview of the author discussing some aspects of this paper.  This publication can be found at: http://www.wmitchell.edu/intellectual-property/research-series/default.aspx?page=271.

Jim Nikolai       (612) 392-7302           Jim.Nikolai@nm-iplaw.com

The attorneys of Nikolai & Mersereau, P.A. are committed to a wide range of public service activities which enhance the quality of life in their community.  This year, the Minnesota Debate Teacher’s Association has honored one of our attorneys.  Peter Nikolai was named Coach of the Year for 2008 by the MDTA.  The Coach of the Year award is presented annually to recognize coaches who have succeeded in cultivating a stable, well-balanced and competitive debate program.

Peter has been an active high school debate coach for over 18 years.  He volunteers his time as the head coach at St. Paul Central High School.  This past year, Central was the section champion, state finalist and top 10 finisher at the National Forensic League tournament.  In addition, Central won the 2007 Mid-Western Novice National tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.

Jim Nikolai                 (612) 392-7302           Jim.Nikolai@nm-iplaw.com