News & Analysis as of

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

Snell & Wilmer

Fourth Circuit Holds Additional Evidence Needed to Determine Whether “MOKE” is Generic

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The Fourth Circuit recently vacated and remanded a finding that the term MOKE is generic for certain low-speed, open-air vehicles. This case originated in the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) where Moke America LLC...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Rules Are Rules, Especially in Trademark Proceedings

The Commissioner for Trademarks recently issued a precedential decision terminating a reexamination proceeding for the registrant’s failure to respond within a statutory time period, where there was insufficient justification...more

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Trademark Practice Considerations Following the USPTO 2025 Fee Increases

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) could see fewer trademark applications filed in numerous Classes with lengthy descriptions of goods and services as a result of an increase in trademark fees and new surcharges...more

Fish & Richardson

USPTO Kicks “Hijacker” of Foreign Trademark Out the Door

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When, if ever, is it okay to use a trademark in U.S. commerce that is identical to another company’s mark used outside the U.S.? Courts have struggled with this issue for years, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office...more

Holland & Knight LLP

COGNAC, Hip Hop and Fame: A Trademark Showdown with a Twist

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You might be wondering what cognac, hip-hop and fame have in common. The answer, at least in a recent opinion by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, is certification trademarks. We have written in the past...more

Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

The Precedent: Federal Circuit Clarifies Functionality Doctrine in CeramTec v. CoorsTek

In this edition of The Precedent, we outline the recent federal circuit decision in CeramTec v. CoorsTek. ...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Beach Buggy Battle: Stipulation Insufficient to Establish Trademark Distinctiveness

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The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found that a district court does not need to accept both parties’ stipulation that a mark is distinctive but instead is permitted to make an evidentiary inquiry in determining...more

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

TTAB Upholds Reputation Outside of U.S. as Ground for Opposition

In the recent precedential decision Plumrose Holding Ltd. v. USA Ham LLC, Opposition No. 91272970 (January 17, 2025), the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board found that an Opposer had standing to challenge registration of a...more

Irwin IP LLP

Cognac Flexing Fame in Hip-hop

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Bureau Nat'l Interprofessionnel du Cognac v. Cologne & Cognac Ent., 110 F.4th 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2024) - In trademark disputes, the likelihood of confusion analysis—guided by the DuPont factors—is a balancing test with the...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Ceramtec GMBH v. Coorstek Biocermanics LLC

This case examines the application of trademark functionality doctrine in the medical device industry, specifically addressing whether the pink color of ceramic hip components can be protected as a trademark. The case...more

Miller Canfield

Tickled Pink No More: Federal Circuit Affirms Cancellation of CeramTec’s Trademarks for Pink Ceramic Hip Implants

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Color trademarks have traditionally been difficult to obtain. Of the over 4 million trademark registrations, there were less than 1000 color trademarks as of 2019. To be eligible for trademark registration, a color must have...more

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

Fee Increases for Trademark Applications and Maintenance Effective January 18, 2025

The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has finalized new fees for trademark applications and renewals. These fee increases vary by type of submission, but these changes may impact strategic considerations for trademark...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Pink Is Not the New Black: See Functionality Doctrine

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The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a Trademark Trial & Appeal Board decision canceling trademarks for the color pink for ceramic hip components, stating that substantial evidence supported the Board’s...more

Irwin IP LLP

Hips Don’t Lie (About Their Allegedly Optimal Color). 

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CeramTec v. Coorstek Bioceramics, Case No. 2023-1502 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 3, 2025) - Colors are generally permitted as source identifiers for trademarks or trade dress because they are typically perceived as an ornamental...more

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

Beams of Light Fail to Strike a Chord with the Board

The Guitar Hotel in Hollywood, Florida is a hotel in the shape of the body of a guitar, with six lit-up “strings” running vertically up the surface of the building. At 7 pm daily, the hotel conducts a music and light show...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

A SUPER HERO-ic Trademark Takedown

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Last month, the creators of beloved characters like “Superman” and “Spider-Man” declined to come to their own rescue when their SUPER HERO and SUPER HEROES registrations were cancelled by a default judgment from the U.S....more

Ladas & Parry LLP

TTAB favours Airbnb in opposition against competitor TREEBNB mark

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In Airbnb Inc v Seth Bolt and Victoria Bolt, the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) ruled in favour of opposer Airbnb Inc., against applicants Seth and Victoria Bolt. The board’s decision was influenced by, among other...more

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP

When Are Pending Trademark Applications Subject to Court Review?

Generally, third parties who believe they may be harmed by a trademark registration can challenge a USPTO trademark application through the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. However, do third parties have another avenue in...more

Haug Partners LLP

TTAB Decision Highlights The Importance of Accurately Describing Goods and Services In Trademark Applications

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Recently, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “TTAB”) affirmed the decision to cancel Registration Nos. 5,376,467 and 5,376,466, for the marks SMARTLOCK and SMARTLOCK with design (the “Smartlock Marks”), in the name of...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Central District Finds SnapChat’s Spectacles Mark is Not Generic for Smart Glasses

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In Snap, Inc. v. Vidal, the Central District of California found the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) was wrong in finding that SnapChat’s SPECTACLES mark is generic for smart glasses. The district court’s opinion...more

Weintraub Tobin

(Podcast) The Briefing: The Fall of SUPER HERO – When Trademarks Become Generic

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For more than half a century, Marvel Comics and DC Comics have jointly owned the trademark ‘Superhero.’ However, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently granted a petition to cancel that mark because it became generic....more

Weintraub Tobin

The Briefing: The Fall of SUPER HERO – When Trademarks Become Generic

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For more than half a century, Marvel Comics and DC Comics have jointly owned the trademark ‘Superhero.’ However, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board recently granted a petition to cancel that mark because it became generic....more

Willcox & Savage

Trump Too Small: The Lanham Act Names Clause

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To guide potential trademark owners and to foster strong protection for trademarks under U.S. law, the Lanham Act; 15 U.S.C. §1052, defines the types of trademarks and service which marks can be registered by whittling away...more

Willcox & Savage

Trademark Board Finds No Sovereign Immunity to Opposition Proceeding

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The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) ruled that a state agency has no sovereign immunity to a trademark opposition proceeding. Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. v....more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Marvel and DC Lose “Super Hero” Trademark Registration

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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has canceled long-standing trademark registrations for “Super Hero” and “Super Heroes,” which had been previously jointly owned by Marvel and DC Comics....more

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