Category: Trademark

What happens when you turn a “#9” upside down?  You get a “6”!  And a lawsuit for trademark infringement!  According to Vermont-based brewery, Magic Hat, the use of a “6” inside of a circle by the Kentucky-based West Sixth Brewery creates a likelihood of confusion under the trademark infringement test. Magic Hat was founded in […]

We all know internet marketing has expanded in popularity in recent years.  While consumers may praise the ability to buy nearly anything from their living room, the new online marketing arena has also raised significant questions in intellectual property law over what online businesses can use to advertise.  As one example, competitive keyword advertising is […]

The Michigan Venture Capital Association has released its annual research report, which concludes that Michigan’s venture capital industry invested $242 million in 2012. MVCI’s research report shows that there are currently twenty nine venture capital groups operating within the state, which invested a combined $242 million in thirty-three deals within the State of Michigan. There […]

Two “twisted sisters,” Sandra Russell and Nancy Hansen, operate Twisted Sisters Coffee Shop in Mission, Kansas.  They were shocked to receive a letter from a lawyer representing John French, the founding member of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister.  The letter alleged that the sisters infringed on French’s trademark because their use of “Twisted Sisters” […]

Last week, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted Apple’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed a claim of trademark infringement brought against Apple by Black Tower Press. Black Tower alleged that Apple infringed on its use of “ibooks” because Black Tower and its predecessor had been publishing books under […]

In today’s global market it is necessary to gain an edge in business conducted not only within our own borders, but internationally as well. But many current trademark owners or potential applicants may be unaware that international registration is actually quite simple to do thanks to what is known as the Madrid Protocol. It is […]

We previously discussed why hiring an experienced trademark lawyer makes a difference in getting your trademark published, but hiring an experienced trademark lawyer can also protect you from a claim of trademark infringement.  Use of online bulk legal services, instead of an experienced trademark lawyer, resulted in a claim of trademark infringement for Mr. Freddie […]

Warner Brothers was sued for trademark infringement and copyright infringement by the creators of video-based internet memes Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat. These two videos have been viewed over 245,000,000 times, collectively. Keyboard Cat is a 54 second video uploaded to YouTube in 2007 that shows a cat playing a keyboard. Staring in the video, […]

The Internet is no substitute for an experienced trademark attorney, according to an upcoming study conducted by University of North Carolina School of Law Assistant Professor Deborah Gerhardt and Professor Jon McClanahan. Why can’t I just search for how to do it on the Internet? We have amazing access to information to solving problems or […]

If you are a small business owner then trademarks can be the difference between the life and death of your business. This may sound drastic, but the business world has become much more drastically intertwined over the past decade and a half. Even small businesses now cater to a global market. Federal trademark registration is […]