Posts Tagged: trademark law
Using Do-It-Yourself or Online Trademark Registration Services Can Prove Disastrous for Entrepreneurs
Mass market online filing services simply do not give their clients the time and attention they require and deserve during the trademark application process. The money clients …
Trademark Licensing Protection Act to Prevent Brand Control from Creating Joint Employer Relationship
Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) are co-sponsoring H.R. 6695, the Trademark Licensing Protection Act of 2018, which has been referred to the House Committee …
The Trump Administration is Investigating the “Theft of IP” by China: What You Need to Know About Trademarks in China
A Couple of weeks ago, the Trump administration formally launched a “Section 301” investigation into the “theft of intellectual property” by China. According to US Trade Representative Robert …
Supreme Court Ruling Opens Door to Additional Constitutional Challenges to the Lanham Act
The Supreme Court ruled that the anti-disparagement clause in the Lanham Act violates the Free Speech Clause in the First Amendment. Matal v. Tam. As a result, …
Supreme Court Rocks the Trademark Office in ‘Slants’ Case
After a streak of six patent decisions uniformly overruling the Federal Circuit, and for the first time all term, the Supreme Court finally handed the Federal Circuit …
Frankly My Dear I Don’t Give a Tam: The Oddball Consequences of In re Tam
The Supreme Court heard oral argument on the cloudy Wednesday morning of January 18, 2017. Although the Justices posed tough questions and intricate hypotheticals to both sides, the tone …
Almost Famous: Many Trademark Owners Find Dilution Claims Out of Reach
In a dilution claim, a trademark owner asserts that their famous mark is entitled to protection from use that causes harm to the mark’s reputation or …
ABA files amicus brief in Lee v. Tam to correct errors in trademark law made by Federal Circuit
In the brief, the ABA takes no official opinion on whether the disparagement provisions of the Lanham Act are invalid in the face of constitutionally-protected free speech. …
‘The Walking Dead’ production company brings trademark suit against Atlanta-area movie studio
Although the studio construction itself seems to be carrying on apace, Valhalla Studios has gotten itself into legal trouble over its chosen name. On October 19th, the …
Trademarks: A basic primer on trademarks and trademark law
Trademarks differ from copyrights, which protect original artistic or literary works, and patents, which protect inventions. A trademark primarily protects names, logos or symbols that identify a …
Supreme Court to decide if disparagement provision in the Lanham Act is invalid under the First Amendment?
Based on the question presented in Lee v. Tam, the Supreme Court made clear that its grant of review is only as to the disparagement provision in …
Arch-conservative political pundit obtains “Media Malpractice” trademark
William J. Kelly and his television production company RevDigital had secured the trademark rights to “media malpractice.” U.S. Trademark Registration No. 5027942 was issued as a standard …
Lex Machina trademark litigation report shows heavy enforcement activity for luxury fashion and bong brands
When looking at damages awarded in trademark infringement cases filed since 2005 and terminating between 2009 and 2016, fashion brands have taken in the highest award totals. The top spot …
Offensive Trademark Applications Suspended by USPTO Until Supremes Rule on In re Tam
In anticipation of Supreme Court review of Tam, the Commissioner has issued an informal directive to trademark examiners that any application for a mark that is potentially …
Statute Barring Registration of Disparaging Trademarks Upended
Tam appealed to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”), but the Board affirmed the Trademark Examiner’s refusal to register the mark. The Board found …
