Imagine the word Columbia emblazoned on a cozy hoodie or hat. Does it evoke a rugged outdoor reputation for you? Or elite academia? That is exactly what Columbia Sportswear and Columbia University are hashing out in court right now. What Is Going On? In June 2023, the...
Imagine starting your coffee brand as a college project and watching it grow into neighborhood grocery shelves… only to have a global corporation challenge your right to your name. That is exactly what is happening between Seattle Strong, a cold-brew coffee company...
Not long ago, we wrote about the importance of protecting your trademark by sharing the story of Warner Bros. cracking down on vendors selling knockoff Harry Potter products. Today, we bring you another case highlighting similar infringement for a very different...
In any other realm, that is not a question you would be likely to hear, but where intellectual property is concerned, there is no holding back. What is going on? Back in April 2024, the Marines applied to register a trademark associated with "entertainment services."...
Whether it is the amount of money they earn, their individual stats, or how many championships they have won, numbers are important to professional athletes. One of the most important numbers for many? The one they wear on their jersey — or, as you will see below, on...
Sometimes, trademark confusion battles between brands can start to sound a bit like an elementary school playground fight. Case in point? Bullshine v. Sazerac, which was just decided in both brands’ favor… sort of. Back in 2015, Baltimore-based distiller Bullshine...
Protection of company trademarks and copyrights is becoming increasingly important. This point was driven home to me last week when I attended the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Annual Meeting in San Diego along with a wide variety of trademark...
About a decade ago, California surf company Lost International received trademark protection for the stylized “Mayhem” logo it uses on merchandise. So, when they learned that Lady Gaga would be using “Mayhem” in conjunction with her new album (it is the name of her...