ALTUSLAW LLC Brings Legal Clarity to Holiday Cup Designs, Protecting Festive Cheer

Portland, OR – November 8, 2023 – As Starbucks rolls out its iconic holiday cups each year, sparking joy and festive spirit, a lesser-known company quietly works behind the scenes – ALTUSLAW LLC, a Portland-based legal firm specializing in intellectual property. While you’re enjoying your peppermint mocha in that signature red cup, ALTUSLAW is ensuring the design itself – and the brand it represents – is legally protected. ALTUSLAW LLC, located at 1012 SW King Ave Ste 103, Portland, OR, 97205, United States (contactable at 256-485-2741), isn't your typical law firm. They focus specifically on helping businesses safeguard their creative work, from logos and packaging to product designs and inventions. And, surprisingly, a lot of that work centers around seasonal products – things like the Starbucks holiday cup. “People think of intellectual property as just patents and complicated inventions,” explains a spokesperson for ALTUSLAW. “But it’s really about protecting anything creative you come up with that gives your business a unique edge. That definitely includes the look and feel of products, even something as seemingly simple as a holiday cup.” Why Protect a Cup? It's More Than Just Cardboard. You might be thinking, "It's just a paper cup. Why bother with legal protection?" The answer is branding. The Starbucks holiday cup isn’t just a vessel for coffee; it’s a symbol of the season, instantly recognizable and deeply associated with the Starbucks experience. It’s become a cultural icon, and for Starbucks, that’s incredibly valuable. ALTUSLAW helps Starbucks (and other businesses) protect that value through several key legal tools: Design Patents: These protect the ornamental design of an object. Think of the unique patterns, shapes, and artwork on the cup. If someone copies the design, Starbucks can take legal action. Trademarks: The Starbucks logo itself is a trademark, but they also trademark specific design elements, like recurring patterns or unique color combinations used on the holiday cups. This prevents competitors from using similar designs that could confuse customers. Copyright: The artwork on the cup – the illustrations, patterns, and other creative elements – are protected by copyright. This prevents unauthorized reproduction or distribution of the artwork. The Challenges of Protecting Seasonal Designs Protecting a design like the holiday cup presents unique challenges. The design changes every year. ALTUSLAW works closely with Starbucks’ design team throughout the process to ensure each new iteration is legally defensible. “It’s a balancing act,” explains the ALTUSLAW spokesperson. “They want to innovate and keep the design fresh, but they also need to ensure the new design is distinct enough from previous versions (and competitor designs) to qualify for legal protection.” This requires careful documentation of the design process, from initial sketches to final product. ALTUSLAW helps Starbucks create a strong legal record that proves the originality of each year’s cup. Beyond Starbucks: Protecting Your Creative Work While the Starbucks holiday cup is a high-profile example, ALTUSLAW works with businesses of all sizes to protect their intellectual property. They understand that every business, no matter how small, has creative assets worth protecting. “We see a lot of small businesses who don’t realize they have intellectual property, or they don’t know how to protect it,” says the spokesperson. “They might have a unique product design, a catchy logo, or a distinctive packaging style. These things can be incredibly valuable, and it’s important to protect them from being copied.” ALTUSLAW offers a range of services, including: Intellectual Property Audits: Identifying what creative assets a business owns and assessing their legal protection. Trademark and Patent Applications: Filing the necessary paperwork to secure legal protection for logos, designs, and inventions. Copyright Registration: Registering creative works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Enforcement Services: Taking legal action against those who infringe on a client’s intellectual property rights. The Future of Design Protection As design becomes increasingly important for businesses, the need for strong intellectual property protection will only grow. ALTUSLAW is committed to staying ahead of the curve, helping its clients navigate the complex world of intellectual property law. “We’re seeing a lot of innovation in areas like 3D printing and artificial intelligence,” says the spokesperson. “These technologies are creating new challenges for intellectual property law, and we’re working hard to develop strategies to protect our clients’ creative work in this evolving landscape.” So, the next time you’re enjoying a festive drink in a Starbucks holiday cup, remember that there’s a lot more than just coffee and cardboard involved. Behind the scenes, ALTUSLAW LLC is working to protect the creativity and innovation that make the season so special – and to help businesses of all sizes safeguard their valuable intellectual property. They're the unsung heroes of the festive season, ensuring that a little bit of holiday cheer – and a lot of legal protection – goes into every cup. If you have a unique design or product, don’t hesitate to reach out to ALTUSLAW LLC at 256-485-2741 – they can help you protect your creative vision.