Trademark

Recent case law demonstrates that judicial bodies in the European Union and Russia have taken the stance that cannabis signs and slogans are not acceptable as trademarks as they are…

New USPTO Trademark Rules Seek to Streamline Filing and Crack Down on Fraud, But Could Increase Spam

February 17, 2020

New rules governing all trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) went into effect two days ago, on February 15. Although the headline is a move…

Space Force, Star Trek, and Strange New Worlds of Trademark Infringement

February 13, 2020

On January 24, 2020, the United States Space Force logo hit the news — and the photon torpedoes began to fly. Almost instantly, those familiar with the Star Trek Starfleet…

Greta Thunberg Does Not Need a Trademark Registration

February 10, 2020

Climate activist Greta Thunberg is reportedly planning to register her name as a trademark based on her fears that third parties will exploit her identity for commercial gain. While registering…

Five Royal Trademark Lessons from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

February 8, 2020

As you’ve most likely heard, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have decided to become financially independent of the Crown. No small task when your security costs are reported to be…

New USPTO Commissioner for Trademarks Appointed

February 5, 2020

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today that Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has appointed David Gooder to be the new USPTO Commissioner for Trademarks, replacing Mary Boney…

EU Trademark Owners Relieved by CJEU Judgment in SkyKick Case

January 29, 2020

Litigation, Patent, Trademark

The Court of Justice of the European Union has provided reassurance to European trademark owners in its judgment today in the SkyKick case. (Case C?371/18 Sky plc, Sky International AG,…

Trademark Litigation Review—What Happened in 2019 and What to Watch This Year

January 23, 2020

Litigation, Patent, Trademark

Two things are true about the world of trademarks—it is rarely boring, and something is always on the horizon. The following are some of the significant trademark decisions of 2019,…

Ninth Circuit Set to Clarify Aesthetic Functionality Doctrine

January 17, 2020

Litigation, Patent, Trademark