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Trademark Litigation

Knobbe Martens

The Votes Are In: Highly Descriptive Marks Are Difficult to Protect

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HERITAGE ALLIANCE V. AMERICAN POLICY ROUNDTABLE - Before Prost, Taranto, and Stark. Appeal from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Continuous-use evidence is not necessarily prima facie evidence of acquired distinctiveness...more

Fish & Richardson

Federal Circuit Finds Beer Trademark Application Nothing but "Chicken Scratch"

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In yet another recent example of the need for care in establishing a full record when appealing the denial of a trademark application, on April 14, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the denial of...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Royal Play Penalty: No Standing in the End (Zone)

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The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal from the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board, finding that the appellant lacked standing because it failed to allege any actual and particularized injury. Michael...more

Knobbe Martens

Fireball Frenzy: When First Registering a Mark, Genericness of a Mark Is Determined at the Time of Registration

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BULLSHINE DISTILLERY LLC v. SAZERAC BRANDS, LLC - Before Moore, Reyna and Taranto. Appeal from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In assessing genericness, the TTAB considers how the mark was understood at the time of...more

Irwin IP LLP

Your “Chicken Scratch” May Be Confusing 

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In Re R.S. Lipman Brewing Co., LLC, 2025 WL 1099603 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 14, 2025) - Be careful when selecting a name for your product, otherwise you might find yourself cooked at the United States Patent and Trademark Office...more

International Lawyers Network

Beauty is in the Eye…Lash Extension: Beauty Salon’s Actions to Remove Two Trade Marks Dismissed by the Australian Trade Marks...

A recent trade mark stoush in the eyelash extension market highlights the importance of registering trade marks in all states of Australia, and ensuring that trade marks that intend to be used are registered as soon as...more

International Lawyers Network

Can Trademarks Be Too Descriptive for Registration?

Suppose you want to register a trademark that identifies a source of goods/services for your business. What if the trademark describes an ingredient, quality, feature, function, characteristic, or purpose of your...more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: Everyone Loves the HBO Series 'White Lotus,' Except Duke University

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Can HBO be sued over a T-shirt? Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler unpack Duke University’s beef with 'White Lotus' after a character wore a Duke tee on screen. Does this cross the legal line—or is it just creative expression?...more

Weintraub Tobin

(Podcast) The Briefing: Everyone Loves the HBO Series 'White Lotus,' Except Duke University

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Can HBO be sued over a T-shirt? Scott Hervey and Tara Sattler unpack Duke University’s beef with 'White Lotus' after a character wore a Duke tee on screen. Does this cross the legal line—or is it just creative expression?...more

Hogan Lovells

Legal 500 United States: Trademark Disputes Q&A

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To represent a client before Court in respect of a potential trademark infringement matter, do you require a Power of Attorney – and if so, what are the execution formalities required by your courts? No. A specific power of...more

International Lawyers Network

Trademark Opposition Proceedings in Canada: Proposed Changes Now in Place

In July 2024, I discussed proposed changes to trademark proceedings in Canada. Following a public consultation period, revised Regulations came into force on April 1, 2024 that incorporate those proposed changes. The changes...more

McGlinchey Stafford

The #1 Reason to Register Your Trademark

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There are many valuable benefits of registering one’s trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A cursory Internet search will yield dozens of articles on the “Top 10” or “Top 5” reasons to...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Opposers Beware: Your Own Mark May Not Be Protectable

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The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board’s dismissal of an opposition to the registration of the marks IVOTERS and IVOTERS.COM while also noting that the US Patent &...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

What Were the Cooler Wars? (Part 2) — No Infringement Intended Podcast

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In this episode, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close delve back into the ongoing legal battle known as the "Cooler Wars" between YETI and RTIC. In Part 2, they discuss the various intellectual property strategies YETI employed to...more

ArentFox Schiff

Ford Rears Bronco Head Against Vintage Modern for Trademark Infringement, False Advertising, and Unfair Competition

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Ford is seeking to stop an aftermarket restoration company from the alleged unauthorized use of the Bronco trademark and trade dress in connection with the rebuild of modern Ford Broncos. The case raises questions of whether...more

Foster Garvey PC

Shared Names, Separate Profits: What Dewberry Tells Us About Trademark Liability

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in Dewberry Group v. Dewberry Engineers Inc. (23-900 (604 U.S. _____ (2025)), provides important guidance on corporate separateness, trademark enforcement and the scope of damages...more

Knobbe Martens

Traffix Jam – Technical Functionality Prevents Trademark Protection for the Color Pink

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CERAMTEC GMBH v. COORSTEK BIOCERAMICS LLC - Before Lourie, Taranto, and Stark.  Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. A utility patent may still be considered strong...more

Knobbe Martens

Zoned Out: The Zone of Natural Expansion Doctrine Can Only Be Used Defensively

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DOLLAR FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. v. BRITTEX FINANCIAL, INC. [OPINION] - Before Prost, Taranto, and Hughes.  Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The zone of natural...more

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

Trademark Damages: Supreme Court Rejects Disgorgement of Non-Defendant Affiliate Profits

The United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Dewberry Engineers Inc. v. Dewberry Group, Inc. on Feb. 26, 2025, clarifying the scope of damages available under the Lanham Act in trademark infringement cases....more

McDermott Will & Emery

When Analyzing Likelihood of Confusion, It’s Not Just Location, Location, Location

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated a district court’s decision finding no infringement that focused on only the geographic distance between the physical locations of the two users without considering the...more

Fish & Richardson

TTAB Puts Pool Hall Behind the 8 Ball

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On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) granted an opposition filed by Jack’s Family Restaurants, LP, and denied an application filed by Jack’s Grill and Billiards, Inc., to register JACK’S...more

Fish & Richardson

Trademark Owners May Play Only Zone Defense at the TTAB

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In a precedential decision invoking the “zone of natural expansion” doctrine, on March 19, 2025, the Federal Circuit upheld a decision by the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) cancelling in part registrations for...more

Offit Kurman

Trademark Registration Misconceptions: What Brand Owners Should Know

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Many business owners view trademark registration as a smart investment—and they’re right. A federal registration gives you valuable legal advantages, including nationwide priority, a presumption of ownership, and stronger...more

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP

Jack Daniel’s Harmed, but Not Infringed, by Chewy Dog Toy: Key Trademark Takeaways from the Latest VIP Products and Jack Daniel’s...

JACK DANIEL'S HARMED, BUT NOT INFRINGED, BY CHEWY DOG TOY- The latest ruling in ‘Bad Spaniels’ finds the whiskey brand’s marks were diluted-but not infringed by a dog toy parody, explain Brian Brokate and Jacqueline...more

Baker Botts L.L.P.

When Can District Courts Cancel Trademark Applications?

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Courts are divided on whether their power to order the cancellation of trademark registrations extends to still pending trademark applications under review by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Ninth...more

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