For KFC's New Edible Coffee Cup, the IP Rights are Worth Chewing Over

March 23, 2015

by Thomas Chisena, Penn Law '16

Photo: KFC.

Last month, beloved fast-food restaurant KFC announced that they are unveiling a new product – edible coffee cups, which are set to make their debut in the U.K. this summer. This new innovation, dubbed the “Scoff-ee” cup, was the brainchild of KFC and British “food futurologists,” the Robin Collective. According to KFC’s press release, the cup is formed from a special cookie coated with a paper sugar, and lined with a layer of heat-resistant white chocolate. The white chocolate prevents the cookie from getting soggy and the cup from dissolving. As you sip and savor the coffee, the white chocolate lining slowly melts and adds flavor. Even better – these cups are not just delicious, but are also aromatic. The cups are infused with fragrances of coconut sunscreen, flowers, and freshly cut grass. KFC claims the scents are designed to "evoke the positive memories we associate with warm weather, sunshine and summer holidays."

Penn Law IP Symposium 2015: Design Patents

March 17, 2015

PIPG invites you to its 2015 Symposium on Thursday, March 19.

Beverages & Cheese #3

February 8, 2015

Love cheese? Love hearing about Intellectual Property from your fellow classmates? Come to PIPG Beverages & Cheese #3. Listen and be informed on the newest and most interesting aspects of Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Law. When: Wednesday, February 11 @ 4:45 pm

Where: Silverman 280

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Trademark Tips for Naming Your Start-up

December 7, 2014

By Dmitriy Molchanov and Jeffrey Bashara, Penn Law '17

Whether you want to launch an app, a social startup, or a traditional storefront business, being aware of trademark issues at play will be crucial to protecting and growing your brand. Here, we focus on one of the earliest considerations: choosing a name.

Does the Decision in Alice Leave Software Patents in Wonderland?

November 30, 2014

By Alex Lee, Penn Law '17

Suppose I create a new computer program that gathers all the data on the personal computer of every student at Penn and uses a highly accurate matchmaking algorithm to pair students with their ideal Penn mate. I call it “PENNty of Fish.” For PENNty of Fish to work, students install the program on their personal computer, run the program, and discover their perfect match. Privacy and creepiness issues aside - is PENNty of Fish patentable? The recent Supreme Court decision in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l provided some guidance, but left many questions unanswered.

Beverages & Cheese: Act #2

November 9, 2014

Love cheese? Love hearing about Intellectual Property from your fellow classmates? Come to PIPG Beverages & Cheese #2. Listen and be informed on the newest and most interesting aspects of Copyright, Trademark, and Patent Law. When: Thursday, November 13 @ 4:30 pm Where: Silverman 240B

1L Summer Jobs Panel

November 9, 2014

Interested in Intellectual Property? Come listen to 2Ls and 3Ls describe the search for the “perfect” IP-focused 1L summer job. When: Wednesday, November 12 @ 12:00 pm Where: Silverman 240A

Lunch will be provided!