Chinese Trademark Registration and Unexpected Liabilities: Don’t Get Hustled

In the United States (U.S.), trademark law is, for the most part, supposed to protect consumers. With this purpose in mind, it makes sense that trademark rights arise as soon as you start using a trademark in commerce in a manner that causes your consumers to view the mark as a source indicator. We refer… READ MORE

International Trademarks: Japan has Embraced Color

Trademarking colors has been a complex and confusing legal history question. Color has always been allowed as part of the mark design, but for many years trademarking was denied for stand-alone colors and schemes. Even now the TMEP begins from the principle that “[c]olor marks are never inherently distinctive.” The US Supreme Court finally overcame… READ MORE

What is Contributory Trademark Infringement?

How does Amazon avoid being held liable for trademark infringement? We can find some answers by examining a case recently filed by Daimler AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, against Amazon. Daimler is alleging direct trademark infringement and unfair competition, but the case will inevitably deal with the legal doctrine of contributory trademark infringement. Facts of… READ MORE

Intent to Use Trademark Applications: 7 Factors to Consider

As we discussed here, section 1(b) of the Lanham Act allows a person to file a trademark application prior to using the mark in commerce. 15 U.S.C. § 1051(b)(1). To do so, an applicant must have a bona fide intent to use the trademark in commerce, and, as discussed previously, we typically advise that our… READ MORE

Trademarking a Scent: Hasbro Not Succeeding Yet

It was reported back in March 2017 that Hasbro, Inc., submitted an application to trademark the distinctive scent of Play-Doh, the Hasbro-owned toy modeling clay that we all probably remember playing with as children. Hasbro describes Play-Doh’s smell as “a unique scent formed through the combination of a sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance, with slight… READ MORE

According to recent news reports, fast-food hamburger chain, In-N-Out Burger (“In-N-Out”) has filed a federal lawsuit alleging trademark infringement against Smashburger, another fast-food hamburger chain. The trademark fight is over names for various burgers. The case has an interesting history and provides some useful lessons about trademark procedure and law. In-N-Out was founded back in… READ MORE

5 Reasons for Trademark Refusal

The US Patent and Trademark Office will not register a trademark unless it functions as a mark (see 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1052, 1053, 1127). To do so, the mark must serve as an indicator of the source of the goods, identifying and distinguishing them from other goods and services. This points to the need for a… READ MORE

In trademark law, coexistence agreements are contracts whereby two trademark owners agree to use their similar marks, but agree to limitations. For example, the two owners might agree that their respective goods or services will be offered in different geographic areas. A consent agreement is a type of a coexistence agreement that is usually shorter… READ MORE

Many are familiar with trademark registration under federal law. Some may not know that trademark registration is also available under state laws. In general, registering a trademark under state law is unnecessary, but there are some circumstances in which state trademark registration has value – when federal registration is not allowed and when your trademark… READ MORE

As we recently discussed here, in June, the US Supreme Court declared the disparagement clause of the Lanham Act unconstitutional as a violation of the free speech clause of the First Amendment. In general, the disparagement clause prohibited registration of trademarks that might disparage a person, groups, or institutions. Matal v. Tam, 582 U.S., 137… READ MORE