Greg Zinniel, who readily agreed to help by taking on all six cases. So far, the team has secured one patent for their client and hopes to secure the others for this remarkable and appreciative client. “My experience working on pro bono projects has been very rewarding. By collaborating with these creative inventors, we ensure that they’re able to share their contributions with the world, while protecting their intellectual property rights.” – Malissa Eng
GRANT FAIRBAIRN
BARBARA MARCHEVSKY
It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. However, if you are an artist and entrepreneur, imitation can lead to dilution of your brand. That is what one young woman of color has tried to protect over the years. Daphne Valerius produced the 2007 documentary film “The Souls of Black Girls,” and, in 2010, launched I AM HER® Apparel, which she identifies as “an unapologetic online apparel brand that offers women and girls with uniquely designed statement pieces that celebrate her, inspires her and encourages her to be everything that she was called to be in the world.” Since the launch, Daphne had spent considerable time and effort removing knockoff products from the market, writing hundreds of takedown requests to online vendors and social media platforms. In 2019, Daphne became aware that a well-known celebrity had partnered with a large, online retail store to sell t-shirts bearing the phrase “I Am Her” in celebration of Women’s History Month with proceeds going to a nonprofit benefiting women. Not only did this incident go viral, it also resulted in a flood of counterfeit products as the celebrity’s fame brought copycats out of the woodwork. After months of dealing directly with the online platforms, but getting nowhere herself, she learned of Fredrikson’s trademark and 29
