Trademark Series: Protecting your mark from becoming generic
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed Trademark Trial & Appeal Board rulings, finding that a previously generic term was not generic at the time registration was sought because at that time the mark, as...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment grant in favor of the opposers of a certification mark application for the trademark GRUYERE to designate cheese that originates in the Gruyère region...more
On March 3rd, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Virginia upheld a ruling that cheese labeled GRUYERE can be used to legally describe cheese made from outside the Gruyere region of Switzerland and...more
On March 17, 2021, in a matter of first impression, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held a party appealing a decision of the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) may seek review of...more
The loser of a trademark opposition or cancellation proceeding at the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) has two avenues for appealing the decision: (1) to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal...more
HZNP Medicines LLC, Horizon Pharma USA, Inc. v. Actavis Laboratories UT, Inc. Before Prost, Newman, and Reyna. Appeal from the District Court for the District of New Jersey. Summary: Claims using “consisting...more
2018 saw a number of important trademark cases decided across the United States. Two cases illustrated the similarities between genericness analysis and one of the likelihood of confusion factors considered by the Trademark...more
Federal Circuit Summaries - Before Lourie, Dyk, and Taranto. Appeal from the District Court for the District of Delaware. Summary: A passing reference in the prior art to a formulation containing the claimed active...more
What happens when a patentee is unsuccessful in a prohibition application under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) (PMNOC) Regulations against a generic entrant, but subsequently prevails in an infringement action...more
In a 54 page decision issued on September 6, 2017, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) ended (again) a long-standing dispute between snack food makers Frito-Lay, Inc. (“Frito”) and Princeton Vanguard, LLC...more
In Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC v. Fera Pharmaceuticals, LLC, et al., Case No. 15-3654 (D.N.J.) the district court recently denied Fresenius’s motion to dismiss Fera’s antitrust counterclaims, but simultaneously decided to sever...more
On March 24, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the term “red gold” may not be a generic term for jewelry and watches, and thus, may serve as a trademark. Specifically, the Ninth Circuit found...more
For the past few years there has been fear that the law on priority claims in the European Patent Office (EPO) could result in a divisional application becoming prior art against its parent if the divisional application...more
On appeal from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the TTAB’s refusal to register a stylized form of the mark CHURRASCOS for restaurant services, finding that...more
The Katten Kattwalk discusses legal issues in the fashion industry affecting the trademarks, patents and copyrights associated with companies, brands and products. Letter From the Editor - Fashion Week has come and...more
The U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded for further proceedings the decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB or Board) cancelling the registration of the mark PRETZEL CRISPS,...more
In the past two months, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has issued three opinions citable as Board precedent. The following is a brief summary of each opinion and its precedential impact....more
Hoffmann La-Roche Inc. v. Apotex Inc. - Addressing the validity of a dosing regimen patent in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower...more