Have you ever seen a company pop up multiple times in the headlines for defending its trademark name? You may have wondered, “Do they really need to go after every company that uses something similar? Are they just being aggressive?” If you are not immersed in the...
Trademark
Indiana Jones and the Backpack of Litigiousness
If you have seen the new Indiana Jones movie – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – you might have noticed that Harrison Ford is sporting a particular backpack in the film. Actually, you probably did not notice it because you were too busy paying attention to the...
Distinctive Trade Dress Granted to Guitar-Shaped Hotel
When we talk about trademarks, we often address concrete items that can be registered, like logos, symbols, words, or phrases. But what about the general “look and feel” or shape of a place or product? This protectable aspect of trademark law – known as “trade dress”...
Trademark Lawsuit: New vs. Founding Band Members of Autograph
The histories of bands are often fraught with volatile dynamics between members. Sometimes these dynamics rise to the surface in public lawsuits, especially when it comes to band ownership, royalties, and live show profits. This makes sense – a popular band can serve...
Case about a Jack Daniel’s Parody Toy May Set New National Standards
“The Old No. 2, on your Tennessee Carpet.” “43% Poo By Vol.” “100% Smelly.” Those are just a few of the quotes employed by Phoenix-based business VIP for their “Bad Spaniels” dog toy. They are meant to evoke and parody Jack Daniel’s famous “Old No. 7” label of whiskey...
How Not to Lose Your Trademark to Non-Use Abandonment
Do you know what matters more than the registration of your business’s trademark? Its usage. One major way that a business can lose a viable trademark is non-use for a period of three or more years -- it's called trademark non-use abandonment. The USPTO tries to keep...
6ix9ine Loses Trademark for His Name, Learns Importance of Responding to Lawsuits
Back in July 2022, rapper Warren Hamilton filed a Notice of Opposition before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) against Daniel Hernandez, who goes by the stage name 6ix9ine. In the Opposition, Hamilton said that he had been using a similar stage name – SIX9...
Essential IP Knowledge: Trademark Classes
Have you ever wondered how businesses with similar names can legally coexist? Next time you see brands with similar marks, take note of their industry, products, and services. It is very likely that both businesses have registered trademarks – but they are registered...