Author Archives: John DiGiacomo

The FTC Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and practices in commerce. Here’s how the FTC defines deceptive business practices and what enforcement actions the agency takes.

The FTC’s case against Equifax resulted in a landmark settlement after 147 million Americans had their data exposed. Here’s what businesses can learn.

Trademark coexistence agreements let two parties use similar marks in defined territories or markets. Here’s how these agreements work and when they’re the right solution.

State trademark registration offers limited protection compared to federal registration. Here’s when a state trademark makes sense and what it protects versus a federal mark.

The Stronger Patents Act proposed significant changes to the inter partes review process at the USPTO. Here are five key provisions and what they would mean for patent holders.

The Supreme Court’s Carpenter decision transformed digital privacy law by requiring warrants for cell phone location data. Here’s what it means for law enforcement and businesses.

What is Commercial Disparagement? In the broadest sense, commercial disparagement involves advertising or other public statement including  false or misleading information about a business that discourages consumers from buying from or dealing with that business. There is no requirement that the other business be your competitor, although that is the context in which problems most […]

The Nice Agreement established a system of international trademark classes used by most countries for registration. Here’s how the Nice Classification system works for brand owners.

PCT filings allow inventors to seek patent protection in multiple countries through a single application. Here’s how the Patent Cooperation Treaty process works and who should use it.

A cannabis brand trademark opposition illustrated how the TTAB handles registration disputes in the marijuana industry. Here’s what the case teaches about cannabis trademarks.