“[Don’t] Take It from Me:” Examining Commodores Entm’t Corp. v. McClary

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[Kristen Rollerson, Contributing Member 2018-2019]

The Commodores is a musical group that was formed in 1968.  With the help of Motown Records, original members Thomas McClary, Walter Orange, Lionel Richie, Milan Williams, William King, and Ronald LaPread gained stardom and are still thriving.[1]  The Commodores became a household name with hits like “Take it from Me,” “Brick House” and “Three Times a Lady.”[2]  The group emerged on the Hollywood scene in 1971, and shortly after, released its first album in 1974.  The Commodores have a legacy of over forty released albums, seven number-one singles and topped the charts with multiple hits.  Since its inception, the Commodores toured the globe and continue to share its mark with the world despite the group’s ever-evolving membership.

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Drive My Car: Examining Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies, Inc.

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[Kristen Rollerson, Contributing Member 2018-2019]

No, this is not an ode to the Beatles’ legendary song Drive My Car, but instead, this blog serves the purpose of examining the misappropriation of trade secrets.  Courts have struggled with adjudicating the misappropriation of trade secrets due to the various jurisdictions which a case can be brought.  For instance, state and federal laws afford civil protection.  Interestingly, these protections largely rest upon the language of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“UTSA”).  With a multitude of avenues, the complaining party has their choice of law which may tip the scale in its favor in litigation.  Most recently, trade secrets involving self-driving cars have entered the realm of litigation. 

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