WEISS & MOY, P.C.

09/03/2026

Weiss & Moy, P.C. August Recap -

For Starters, the Department of State announced a pilot program allowing eligible B-1/B-2 applicants in certain countries to pay an additional $750 fee for a visa interview within 10 business days!

08/17/2026

Important Ukraine TPS Update for Employers and Employees

Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine is set to end on October 19, 2026. Certain Ukrainian TPS holders with pending EAD renewals will receive a USCIS notice extending their employment authorization through that date.

Eligible employees may present their expired EAD, dated October 19, 2023, or April 19, 2025, together with the USCIS extension notice for Form I-9 purposes. Employers should review these documents carefully and record October 19, 2026, as the expiration date.

Ukrainian TPS holders should begin reviewing their immigration options now rather than waiting until the designation ends.

Read the official USCIS update: https://lnkd.in/d4DMmq3y

08/12/2026

Weiss & Moy, P.C. July Recap -

A federal appeals court declined to pause a ruling blocking the government’s $100,000 payment requirement for certain new H-1B petitions. The litigation remains ongoing, so employers should continue monitoring developments.

07/01/2026

PepsiCo Mtn Dew Trademark Fight Just Reached the U.S. Supreme Court
Can one word in a product name lead to a Supreme Court case?

That's exactly what's happening between PepsiCo and RiseBrewing

The dispute centers on Pepsi's former Mtn Dew Rise energy drink. Although Pepsi later rebranded the product and ultimately discontinued it, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case because the legal issues could have a lasting impact on trademark law.

At the heart of the case is a question every business owner should consider:
When is a brand name so similar that it could confuse consumers?

The Court's decision could influence how trademark strength and consumer confusion are evaluated in future cases, affecting businesses of all sizes, not just global brands.

The takeaway? Before launching a new brand or product, conducting a proper trademark search can save significant time, money, and litigation down the road.

We'll be following this case closely.

06/29/2026

Are you an athlete looking to train in America? This post is for you.

06/10/2026

Patagonia is taking legal action against environmental activist and drag performer Pattie Gonia over the use of the name "Pattie Gonia."

Patagonia argues the name is too similar to its famous trademark and could cause confusion. Pattie Gonia maintains that the name is a parody and part of a distinct personal brand.

While the dispute has generated significant public attention, it also raises an interesting trademark law question: where is the line between protecting a valuable brand and allowing parody, commentary, and creative expression?

As companies invest more in their trademarks and individuals build increasingly valuable personal brands, courts are being asked more often to balance trademark rights with free speech considerations.

Cases like this serve as a reminder that trademark law is not always black and white.

06/09/2026

A visa interview is stressful enough. Should applicants be required to fly to another country just to attend one?

Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Department of State is considering a major restructuring of visa processing throughout Africa by consolidating services into a limited number of regional processing hubs.

If implemented, this change could have significant consequences for businesses, entrepreneurs, athletes, students, and families seeking to travel to the United States.

For many applicants, obtaining a U.S. visa already requires substantial planning and expense. Requiring individuals to cross international borders for visa interviews could create additional costs, logistical challenges, and delays.

The proposal may be particularly impactful for African startups, investors, and companies pursuing opportunities in the United States. Increased travel requirements could make business expansion and international collaboration more difficult at a time when economic ties between the U.S. and Africa continue to grow.

One detail that has generated considerable discussion is the reported lack of designated processing hubs in North Africa, potentially requiring applicants from the region to travel even farther to complete the visa process.

While the proposal has not yet been fully implemented, businesses and individuals with future U.S. immigration needs should closely monitor developments and plan accordingly.

We will continue following this story and its potential impact on international mobility and cross-border business

06/02/2026

CNN Files Copyright Lawsuit Against AI Search Platform Perplexity

One of the most significant intellectual property stories of the month came when CNN filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI search company Perplexity.

CNN alleges that Perplexity improperly uses and distributes its copyrighted news content without authorization, while Perplexity maintains that its platform helps users access information rather than simply reproducing protected works.

The case is expected to become a closely watched legal battle over how artificial intelligence companies collect, summarize, and display third-party content. The outcome could help shape future copyright protections, licensing models, and the relationship between content creators and AI platforms.

As AI technology continues to evolve, businesses, publishers, and technology companies alike will be watching closely as courts address one of the most important intellectual property questions of the AI era.

If your business is navigating intellectual property, technology, or emerging AI-related legal issues, the team at Weiss & Moy, P.C. is available to help.

06/02/2026

EB-5 investor Visa Important Alert

05/27/2026

Taylor Swift is making headlines again but this time in the trademark world.

According to recent reports, Taylor Swift filed trademark applications for audio clips of her voice saying “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor,” along with an image of herself performing on stage. The filings are reportedly aimed at helping protect her voice and likeness from AI-generated deepfakes and digital impersonation.

As AI technology becomes more advanced, celebrities, creators, and businesses are increasingly looking at new ways to protect their brands, voices, images, and digital identity.

This is another example of how trademark law is rapidly evolving in the AI era.

At Weiss & Moy, P.C., we continue to closely monitor developments involving trademarks, AI, branding, and intellectual property protection.