Trademarks, Branding & Business

Trademarks are a universal phenomenon.  Virtually all legal systems around the world recognize some form of identification of the source and quality of goods. Trademarks have been in existence for almost as long as trade itself, with identification symbols that today we would call trademarks dating 4000 years.  In free market economies, trademarks are legally recognized and protected as an inherent feature of the marketplace and of consumer protection.

From an economic point of view, a trademark is just a symbol that allows a purchaser to identify goods or services that have been acceptable in the past and reject goods or services that have failed to live up to the desired standards, which will vary from consumer to consumer.

What follows are articles from the IPWatchdog.com Blog that relate to trademarks and particularly to brand building, business and advertising.

• Dr. Oz Fights Fraudulent Claims of Endorsement May 7, 2013
• Machine Gun Maker Sues Alphonse Capone Over Trademarks May 4, 2013
• Seventh Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy Opens in Istanbul April 24, 2013
• We Are Just Too Pretty to get Sued for Infringement April 23, 2013
• Costco Attempts to Defend Sale of Counterfeit TIFFANY Diamonds April 1, 2013
• Chubby Checker Brings Lawsuit Against Hewlett-Packard, Palm for Trademark Infringement March 26, 2013
• Ralph Lauren Wins Battle Against USPA Over Horseman Logo March 16, 2013
• Under Armour Sues Nike Over Use of “I Will” February 27, 2013
• Playboy’s Trademark and False Advertising Complaint Dismissed February 17, 2013
• Tiffany Sues Costco Over Counterfeit Diamond Rings February 15, 2013
• All-time Best Corporate Character Mascots February 11, 2013
• McDonald’s Australian Rebrand: “Macca’s”, a Local Slang Name January 28, 2013
• East Carolina sues Cisco over “Tomorrow Starts Here” trademark January 26, 2013
• Replica Batmobile on Trial for Copyright, Trademark Infringement January 19, 2013
• FTC Upholds Decision on Deceptive Advertising of Pomegranate Products January 17, 2013
• Nike v. YUMS: Covenant Not to Sue Prevents Jurisdiction January 15, 2013
• Amazon Wins Small Victory Against Apple Over App Store January 9, 2013
• Hasbro’s Fight for the Little Ponies December 15, 2012
• Croc Counterfeiters in China get Jail Time December 8, 2012
• The Case of the Counterfeit Cell Phone Case December 3, 2012
• Trademark Injunction Issued in Stark Raving Battle of the Wineries November 23, 2012
• Health & Safety Risks from Counterfeits in the Supply Chain November 19, 2012
• Mexico Joins the International Trademark System November 19, 2012
• Fat Freezing Body Sculpting at Center of Trademark Dispute October 28, 2012
• The Cheesesteak Apostrophe: Restaurant Sues USPTO to Trademark “Philadelphia’s Cheesesteak” October 19, 2012
• Trademark Cases of the United States Supreme Court October 16, 2012
• Zombie Trademarks: Bringing a Trademark Back From The Dead August 23, 2012
• USPTO Seeks Comment on Lowering Trademark Application Fees August 16, 2012
• “Fake” Products Pose Real Dangers July 31, 2012
• USPTO Expands Trademark Law School Pilot Program July 31, 2012
• Under Armour Sues Body Armor for Trademark Infringement July 17, 2012
• Counterfeit Coupons – A Costly Scam July 13, 2012
• U.S. v. Alvarez: Trademark Dilution and the First Amendment July 3, 2012
• The New GTLDs and What it Means for Your Organization June 24, 2012
• Trademark Scammers Out of Business Thanks to Leason Ellis June 20, 2012
• Skechers to Pay $40 Million for False Advertising June 18, 2012
• Combating Counterfeiting and Unauthorized Product Sales June 11, 2012
• Colombia Joins the International Trademark System May 29, 2012
• The Perils of Being Your Own Trademark Attorney May 16, 2012
• Two of My Favorite Things: Whiskey and Trade Dress May 15, 2012
• It’s Pronounced Foo Koo May 8, 2012
• USPTO Expands Trademark Law School Clinic Pilot Program May 7, 2012
• IP Contributes $5 Trillion and 40 Million Jobs to US Economy April 11, 2012
• USPTO Announces 2012 National Trademark Expo March 23, 2012
• International Patent & Trademark Filings Set New Record in 2011 March 16, 2012
• More Cybersquatting on the Horizon with Launch of New gTLDs March 12, 2012
• Exclusive Interview: Trademark Commissioner Cohn Part 2 February 24, 2012
• Exclusive Interview: Trademark Commissioner Deborah Cohn February 23, 2012
• Trademark Skullduggery: Lawsuit Challenges Publication Service February 2, 2012
• U.S. News Ranks Top Patent, Copryight & Trademark Law Firms November 1, 2011