Odin Law and Media Files Amicus Brief with U.S. Supreme Court Supporting Digital Privacy in Trademark Applications

Firm challenges US Patent and Trademark Office's privacy-compromising requirement for domicile addresses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Raleigh, NC – 16 July 2024 – Odin Law and Media (OLM), a leading firm specializing in digital media and game development law, is proud to announce its representation of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and CodeMiko in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court.


The case, Chestek PLLC v. Vidal, challenges the US Patent and Trademark Office's rule requiring all trademark applicants to provide their domicile addresses when applying for trademark registrations.


Odin Law and Media argues that this requirement unnecessarily exposes applicants, particularly those in the games and digital entertainment industries, to risks of harassment and invasion of privacy. The brief asserts that the USPTO's rule endangers individual privacy and skips crucial steps that should allow the public to help shape the rules that affect them.


"Ensuring that administrative bodies engage in fair notice-and-comment rulemaking is fundamental to the democratic process," stated Brandon J. Huffman, founding attorney at Odin Law and Media. "This case highlights a failure to provide adequate notice or solicit meaningful input from those most impacted by the rules, particularly affecting individuals in the digital entertainment and game development sectors where privacy concerns are paramount."


"Transparency and protection of personal information are critical in the digital age," added Jakin Vela, executive director of the IGDA. "The requirement to disclose domicile addresses without adequate safeguards fails to recognize the unique risks faced by creators in the digital space, like game developers who are particularly vulnerable to doxing and other forms of harassment."


The brief elaborates on the significant privacy concerns for individuals in the creative industries, emphasizing that many small business owners, developers, and digital entertainers use their home addresses as their business addresses, making them easy targets for harassment.


Odin Law and Media's filing on behalf of IGDA and CodeMiko underscores the firm’s commitment to advocating for sensible digital privacy protections and supporting the game development community in legal matters that affect their professional and personal lives.


For more information about Odin Law and Media and their services, visit odinlaw.com or contact: Brandon J. Huffman 

About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA®)
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is the world’s largest nonprofit membership organization serving all individuals who create games. The mission of the IGDA is to support and empower game developers around the world in achieving fulfilling and sustainable careers.


As an international organization, the IGDA is a San Francisco, CA.-based 501(c)6 non-profit professional association and a global network of collaborative projects and communities of individuals from all fields of game development - including programmers and producers, designers and artists, as well as writers, business people, QA team members, localization experts, and everyone else who participates in any way in the game development process. The IGDA brings together developers at key industry conferences, and in over 150 Chapters and Special Interest Groups (SIGs), to improve their lives and their craft.
For more info, please visit www.igda.org.


Odin Law and Media 
4600 Marriott Drive, Suite 520 
Raleigh, NC 27612

Email: brandon@odinlaw.com


Media Contacts
Eliott Garcia / Haylee Kiedrowski
Stride PR for IGDA