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Trademark Infringement Free Speech

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC

Absolute Confusion: Did The Supreme Court Blunder In Raising The Bar For Trademark Parodies In Jack Daniel’s?

In Jack Daniel’s v. VIP Products, the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a chewable “Bad Spaniels” dog toy shaped like a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey violated Jack Daniel’s trademark rights. VIP claimed its dog...more

Baker Donelson

Baker's Trademark Developments of 2024

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2024 has been a busy year in all intellectual property. It has been especially busy in trademark law. Here are the top seven cases in trademark law to date....more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Is the Art of Parody Dead? - Implications of SCOTUS Jack Daniel’s Opinion A Year Later

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It has been a year since the Supreme Court issued its decision in the multiple-year legal battle between VIP Products LLC and Jack Daniel’s. We covered this dispute when it was back at the 9th Circuit....more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Lanham Act’s Personal Names Restriction Does Not Violate First Amendment

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As expected, based on the tenor of the Justices’ questions during oral argument, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a trademark applicant seeking to register a mark commenting on former President Donald Trump. The...more

Troutman Pepper

Supreme Court Upholds Names Clause in Trademark Law, Emphasizing Historical and Traditional Foundations

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In a landmark decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court has unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Lanham Act’s provision that prohibits the registration of trademarks consisting of, or...more

McDermott Will & Emery

[Webinar] 2024 IP Outlook: Trends Affecting Patent, Trademark, Copyright and Trade Secret Holders - December 12th, 1:00 pm - 2:00...

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As 2023 draws to a close, new developments continue to emerge across the patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret spaces. Join members of McDermott’s Intellectual Property Group for a year-end review that will explore...more

Carlton Fields

Top 10 First Amendment Cases of the 2022-2023 Supreme Court Term

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The Supreme Court this term elevated First Amendment values over anti-discrimination laws and stalking statutes in two important cases. The most far-reaching case, 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, decided that a website designer...more

Foster Garvey PC

Supreme Court Reinforces Trademark Protections for Brand Owners in Jack Daniel’s Decision

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The recent Supreme Court decision in the Jack Daniel's trademark lawsuit against a dog toy manufacturer has significant implications for both brand owners and those seeking to parody established trademarks....more

Jones Day

SCOTUS Holds Whiskey-Themed Dog Toy Not Entitled to First Amendment Protection

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In a closely watched trademark infringement case, the Supreme Court of the United States held that when an alleged infringer uses a trademark as a source identifier for the infringer's own products, the First Amendment does...more

Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass

Supreme Court’s Bad Spaniels Decision Limits Parody Defense to Trademark Infringement

On June 8, 2023, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products, limiting the scope of a parody defense to a trademark infringement claim...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Jack Daniel's Wins Supreme Court Battle with Dog Toy Seller Who Mocked Iconic Brand

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In a win for brand owners across the country, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that potential infringers as a threshold matter are not automatically shielded from liability by simply claiming their infringement includes...more

Amundsen Davis LLC

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Commercial Use Over Dog Toy Parody in Trademark Case

Amundsen Davis LLC on

On June 8, 2023, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court of the United States found in favor of Jack Daniel’s in deciding that a whiskey bottle-inspired dog toy, “Bad Spaniels,” used Jack Daniel’s trademarks in a...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

SCOTUS Finds Dog Poop Jokes Reek of Infringement

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The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected the Ninth Circuit’s opinion that a poop-themed dog toy should be protected as parody under the First Amendment. SCOTUS ruled today in Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc. v. VIP...more

Warner Norcross + Judd

Identifying the Source of Goods and Services Is No Laughing Matter

On June 8, 2023, the United States Supreme Court clarified an important unanswered question about the line between the First Amendment’s freedom of speech and trademark owners’ rights under the Lanham Act. In a unanimous, 9-0...more

Latham & Watkins LLP

Bored Apes Scores Win in Protecting Its Trademarks

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In a major Web3 trademark infringement case, NFT creators prevail over those with a bad-faith intent to profit. On April 21, 2023, Yuga Labs, the original creators of the Board Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible token...more

International Lawyers Network

Free Speech, Chatting About Friends, Kraken/Crackin’ On AI, & Thinking About Fred & Ginger: Generated Content, Amici Curiae, & A...

Lots of people are talking about ChatGPT. Some, like those at Microsoft, see it as a valuable tool to be integrated into their products and platforms; indeed, one of its lawyers thought that the answer provided by ChatGPT...more

McDermott Will & Emery

On the Border of Art and Trademark: First Amendment Trumps the Lanham Act

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The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit weighed trademark rights against free speech considerations and found that the First Amendment protected use of an artistic work that was not deliberately misleading. MGFB...more

International Lawyers Network

Just Humor Them: Jests, Jokes, Satire, and Parody In Infringement and Defamation Cases

I thought of that story, and the unique power humor has, literally and legally, to disarm many who might otherwise complain over any number of legal issues and perceived slights. For even though, as one writer noted, some...more

King & Spalding

Trademark Parody and Freedom of Speech in the U.S.

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Food and beverage brands are routinely listed among the most famous and valuable brands in the world. With fame, however, comes the increased chance that a brand will be a target for trademark parodists. A March 2020...more

Sunstein LLP

Activision Wins the (Trademark) War: First Amendment Protects Depiction of Humvees in Realistic Video Games

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A federal judge in New York recently held that the First Amendment right to convey realism in video games can outweigh trademark rights. Activision Blizzard makes one of the world’s most popular video games. Call of Duty...more

Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC

Unprecedented: COVID-19 Litigation Trends - Issue 6

This sixth edition of Unprecedented, our weekly update on COVID-19 litigation, sees us reporting on many of the same types of cases. Consumers continue to seek refunds for goods and services that have been disrupted by the...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

This Could Change Everything: Nike Appeals Fleet Feet Injunction on Basis of Free Speech

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Fleet Feet, Inc. is a national running equipment retail store chain and owner of the trademarks CHANGE EVERYTHING and RUNNING CHANGES EVERYTHING for retail sporting goods stores and athletic apparel and related goods and...more

Sunstein LLP

Humvee Goes Into Battle: Will Its Trademarks Leave Tread Marks on Video Game Makers?

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The realism of video games is intensified by the inclusion of products and brands we recognize from daily life. Can the thrill of such verisimilitude coexist alongside the rights of trademark owners?...more

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Anonymous Online Speech: Considerations for Victims and Speakers

In today’s world — where social media has become a source of news for many — companies and individuals often find themselves the subject of negative and anonymous online comments. These comments can give rise to legal claims...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

MarkIt to Market - February 2019: Trademark Practice Update: Outrageous! Disgraceful! Appalling!...or is it? SCOTUS to Decide the...

U.S. trademark attorneys received a New Year’s surprise last month when the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear Iancu v. Brunetti, the case that should determine the availability of federal trademark...more

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