You probably intuitively know that state names are closely intertwined with the universities and athletic teams that reside within them. It is also understandable that the state itself (the government) might want to use the state name for branding efforts. Because of...
Written By Guest Author, Marks Gray Summer Law Clerk Corrine H. Bowden What do Louis Vuitton luxury handbags have in common with “Chewy Vuiton” dog toys? According to the Fourth Circuit, not enough. The court’s November 2007 ruling in favor of the underdog in Louis...
Clients often tell me they just want to “trademark” the name of their company -- using trademark as a verb. I explain that the company name is the trademark, and that they need to register the trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). ...
The International Trademark Association (INTA), celebrated World Anti-Counterfeiting Day on June 8, 2021, by publishing an update on their publication Addressing the Sale of Counterfeits on the Internet. This guide was prepared by volunteer members of the INTA...
A trademark is defined as a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as a source identifier of a company or product. The name of your business most often will serve as a trademark for your business. In other words, if you provide a good product...
A few weeks ago, we witnessed a rare ruling in the trademark world. Some say a precedent was established, but the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) disagrees. To set the scene: in March 2020, Robert Troy Hoff of Chicago applied to register a trademark for a...
I received a phone call from an attorney this week asking me if I had recently encountered any problems filing trademark applications with the USPTO. She proceeded to explain that she had filed a trademark application with the USPTO via the Trademark Electronic...
Consistency in the use of a trademark is extremely important to building a strong brand in commerce. It helps consumers immediately identify your business, products, and services. It creates the impression of a professional, well-organized, trustworthy company. In...