Trademarkology
Brands, Trademarks, and Registration
Hitman Glass Hit With Default Judgment
Hitman Glass is in hot water with Starbucks over use of a nearly identical version of Starbucks' famous logos on a line of glass bongs, t-shirts, and pins. Things really heated up for Hitman Glass...
This is the Spinal Tap Lawsuit
"This is Spinal Tap," with its eminent quotability, is a cultural touchstone. I had heard of it, but not seen the movie until last year, when my husband sat down to watch it with me...
Supreme Court to Hear “Offensive” Trademark Case
Fall is finally here and football season is well underway. It appears that the clash between free speech and trademark protection is headed to the Super Bowl, but it won't be the Washington Redskins on...
Pirates of the Pacific… Northwest
This is the year for territoriality issues in trademark disputes. As we reported previously, Bayer and Belmora have locked horns over the question of whether someone who owns a trademark in Mexico (and does not...
Does One Life Matter?
No. At least not according to a recent decision rendered earlier this month by three judge panel at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.The Applicant, Tres Vidas Organic, Inc., sought to register the following mark...
Audits: They’re Not Just for the IRS Any More
Recently, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the "PTO") issued its 5,000,000th registration. (Congratulations to the owner of COASTAL TACO BAR + CHILL!). It took until 1974 for the PTO to issue the 1,000,000th...
What is the difference between a business name and a trademark?
For that matter, what about fictitious names, dbas and trade names? Recently, I've talked to a number of small business owners who have interesting and profitable businesses. These businesses range from mechanics, to pastry stores...
Genericide
Genericide: a word that strikes terror in the hearts of any trademark owner or brand manager.What exactly is genericide? It's the trademark equivalent of homicide. It is when a mark becomes so successful and well...