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Cliff Kuehn

has been a trademark attorney in San Francisco since 2010, focusing on trademark prosecution and litigation at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board at the US Patent and Trademark Office. A believer of letting personal interests influence his professional ones, food, software, and creative clients make the bulk of his book of business at Kuehn Law. He is also a Registered European Trademark Attorney which, in combination with his past experience in the coveted traineeship program in the litigation department of the EU Intellectual Property Office and LL.M. in European intellectual property law, brings strategic foresight to brand-centric clients with European aspirations.

Recent Articles by Cliff Kuehn

Craft Beer vs. Big Beer Trademark Suit May Test 9th Circuit’s ‘Irreparable Harm’ Standard

A resounding en garde was declared by California craft beer brand Stone to MillerCoors, the second largest beer company in the United States, over the alleged taking of their brand recognition. On February 12, 2018 Stone Brewing filed a federal complaint alleging trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and California unfair competition. The complaint requests preliminary and permanent injunction, declaratory relief, and both actual and treble damages on the basis of willful trademark infringement by MillerCoors… A particularly interesting factor in this case is likelihood of irreparable harm. MillerCoors may find room for defensive maneuvers due to recent shifts in the standard for proving irreparable harm.

Can the name of a fictional, intergalactic game evolve into a trademark protectable in the world of mere groundlings?

In its latest action in a multi-jurisdictional conflict with a mobile gaming producer, Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC and Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. LLC filed a complaint for trademark infringement in the Northern District of California on December 21, 2017. The complaint alleges, among other things, trademark infringement against a London-based game developer Ren Ventures Ltd. for using the word SABACC as the name of their iOS and Android mobile game. Other causes of action include copyright infringement, cancellation of the defendant’s trademark, unfair competition, common law trademark infringement, and California unfair competition.