toggle accessibility mode
international trademark registration

Is Your Business Ready for Foreign Trademark Registrations?

Do You Have a Us Trademark Registration or Pending Application? Certain international treaties provide some advantages to filing based on your US trademark application or registration. Your international trademark is dependent on your domestic registration for the first five years. Anything that happens to your home trademark registration in the first five years of international… READ MORE

cybersquatting laws overview

An Overview of Cybersquatting Laws

Consider the following scenario: You’re a successful business owner, and you have a customer base that’s expanding daily. Recently, you decided it’s time to start a website to continue growing your business, but when you try to register your trademark as your domain name, you find out someone else already owns it. Without warning, you… READ MORE

What is the Trademark Registration Process?

Applying for federal trademark registration is typically a wise investment for individuals and businesses. The benefits that come with registration, including nationwide exclusivity to use your mark in connection with your goods or services, can be extremely valuable. But, the trademark registration process can be confusing. This post explains the trademark registration process for applications submitted… READ MORE

cancelling a trademark

Grounds for Cancelling a Trademark

How does one go about cancelling a trademark? Once a trademark is federally registered, there are two main ways in which it can be “unregistered”: abandonment and cancellation. Cancellation proceedings are similar to opposition proceedings. These occur after the disputed mark is already registered, rather than during the application process. It is important to keep mind… READ MORE

trademark first use in commerce

Trademark’s First Use in Commerce

Registering a trademark may seem like a daunting task, but it isn’t. However, the confusion usually arises when you are trying to determine “first use”. The first time you used your trademark could, but is probably not, the correct date to use as the “first use in commerce” date in the trademark application. That is… READ MORE

kylie rights to a name

Kylie v. Kylie: Who Has Rights To A Name?

Since celebrities realized that they could capitalize on their names and personas, they have tried to cultivate, protect, and display certain images that are associated with them. While this is not a new practice, trademarking one’s own name is. Kylie Jenner, an affluent 18-year-old socialite who has created an empire of products and appearances based… READ MORE

How Bad Can It Be? Penalties Under the SCPA

Over $30 million in damages, with an additional $6 million in interest and costs. That’s the price Clear Logic, Inc found itself paying after losing an infringement claim under the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act (“SCPA”). In 2005, the Ninth Circuit Court affirmed a case coming out of the Northern District of California regarding an infringement… READ MORE

The SCPA: Semiconductor Chip Protection

Not really Copyright law and not really Patent law, but somewhere in between: this is where the Semiconductor Chip Protection Act (“SCPA”) stands in US intellectual property law. In 1992 a case came before the Federal Circuit Court that resulted in a detailed explanation of the SCPA and a look at what Congress really intended.Brooktree… READ MORE

Need a Trademark Attorney in Kalamazoo?

Do you need to register or protect your trademark? Do you have questions about the legal steps involved in protecting your brand, logo, or identity? Our expert trademark lawyers have represented clients in trademark infringement disputes in…

Trademarks and Copyrights and Patents: Oh My

The world of intellectual property law primarily focuses on protecting assets. And the law provides different forms of protection depending on the asset. In general, these protections are found in copyrights, trademarks, and patents. These …

Make better decisions for your business, and avoid the online legal traps.

LET'S DISCUSS YOUR CASE