The Docket
Welcome to The Docket: The Legal Blog for Creatives & Entrepreneurs
The Docket is a curated legal blog from Zamani Thomas Legal, offering insights at the intersection of intellectual property, business, and culture. Whether you’re a creative entrepreneur, artist, or independent brand, this space breaks down legal topics that impact your work, from copyright and trademarks to contracts and brand protection.
Explore legal commentary, industry updates, and strategic guidance on intellectual property, entertainment law, and creative rights, designed to help clients, collaborators, and creatives navigate the evolving creative economy with clarity and confidence.
U.S. vs. Canadian Trademarks
January 16, 2025
U.S. vs. Canadian Trademarks | 6 Differences Canadians should consider trademarking their brands in the U.S. due to its much larger consumer market, for protection against cross border infringement and to secure their brand’s identity in cross-border trade (particularly now with e-commerce etc.). Without a U.S. trademark, many Canadian brands risk losing their competitive advantage
Establish Your Brand Identity
January 9, 2025
Legal Foundations to Establish Your Brand Identity One of the most important legal and strategic steps for entrepreneurs is to establish your brand identity. It sets the foundation for how your business is perceived, protected, and positioned for growth. Why You must Establish Your Brand Identity Early Based on the Oxford Dictionary definition a Trademark
AI and Likeness Rights
January 6, 2025
AI and Likeness Rights | Impacts on Art, Photography, & the Future Integrating AI into sports and entertainment is rapidly transforming these industries. From enhancing fan experiences to revolutionizing content creation, AI and likeness rights are becoming a driving force (in particular, their intersection). However, its implications for art and photography, especially of athletes and
AI on the Legal Profession
January 6, 2025
AI Impact on the Legal Profession AI is in the midst of reshaping industries world wide; and the AI impact on the legal profession is no exception. While it offers many exciting possibilities like streamlining document review and the possibility of enhancing case outcome models, its integration into law comes with significant challenges. The American
Warhol Fair Use Ruling
May 19, 2023
Warhol Fair Use Ruling The importance of clarity when it comes to legal decisions that impact artists and creatives is essential in intellectual property analysis and practice. Today, I aim to provide you with an in-depth analysis of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the copyright dispute involving Andy Warhol and his portraits of Prince.
NIL Rules & Regulations
March 28, 2023
NIL Rules and Regulations If you’re a college athlete, you may have heard the term NIL (name, image, and likeness) thrown around a lot lately. It refers to the ability of college athletes to profit from their own name, image, and likeness. However, new NIL rules and regulations can be a bit confusing. In this
NFT vs Traditional Art
March 27, 2023
NFT vs Traditional Art 5 Essential Differences Between NFT vs Traditional Art When it comes to NFT vs traditional art and the legal issues surrounding intellectual property, there are many similarities. However, there are also some key differences that you need to be aware of if you are buying, selling, or creating either. In both
IP Crypto Protection
March 27, 2023
IP Crypto Protection (Updated for 2025) IP Crypto Protection in: Safeguarding Creative Rights in the Blockchain Era If you’re active in crypto, NFTs, or blockchain development, you probably already understand the importance of securing your digital assets. But in 2025, IP Crypto Protection has become just as crucial as securing your wallet or private key.
Avoiding Likelihood of Confusion
March 25, 2023
Avoiding Likelihood of Confusion in a Trademark Filing Are you struggling with a Likelihood of Confusion Office Action from the USPTO? Don’t worry, with the right approach, you can overcome this obstacle and secure your trademark registration. Here are some steps you can take to respond to the USPTO while avoiding likelihood of confusion office
Need clarity on an issue? Book a consultation with Zamani Thomas Legal for tailored legal guidance.
And for free tools and templates, explore The Creative Docket Toolkit. This is your go-to legal blog for creatives ready to protect, empower, and inform.
