Hey Lacoste: I hear Hollister is inexpensive
By J. DeVoy I previously wrote about protecting your brand and crapping all over a competitor’s by giving a rival’s products to infamous celebrities and public figures, thus lowering its social cachet....
View ArticleChristian Louboutin Shoes and “Aesthetic Functionality”
Christian Louboutin tried to distinguish its shoes from others by giving them a shiny red lacquered sole. The company takes the position that the red sole functions as a trademark — that it helps...
View ArticleDon’t you “Krave” an interesting cybersquatting case?
By J. DeVoy Vegas Inc., which provides excellent coverage of Las Vegas’ legal developments (such as its remarkable dedication to the Righthaven saga), reports on a lawsuit filed by the operator of...
View ArticleJudge rules court has no personal jurisdiction over Faceporn.com
U.S. District Court Judge Nathanael Cousins recently denied Facebook’s motion for default judgment against Faceporn.com, a website operating out of Norway, for trademark infringement. Judge Cousins...
View ArticleNavajo Nation Sues Urban Outfitters for Trademark Infringement
Last week, the Navajo nation sued Urban Outfitters for trademark infringement, trademark dilution, unfair competition, and a violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act for selling products branded as...
View ArticleFrom the “I’m So Clever” File
Federal Judge Slaps Back Dino M. Zaffina in Darts Trademark Battle – Los Angeles News – The Informer Odd story. Basically, some dart fan joins the Southern California Darts Association. They snub him...
View ArticleWanna own the Righthaven trademark?
By J. DeVoy Hey, you! Give your failed life some meaning by purchasing Righthaven’s registered servicemark! Available now on eBay! OWN RIGHTHAVEN’S “COMMERCIAL GOODWILL” LOLOLOLOLZ!
View ArticleSticking up for the big guy: United v. Untied.com
I got this story in my inbox — that United Airlines was trying to bully a website that is dedicated to complaining about United Airlines – Untied.com. United Continental Holdings has sued a Canadian...
View ArticleFederal Circuit’s COCKSUCKER Decision Sucks
As many long-time readers know, Section 2(a) of the Trademark Act is one of my pet peeves. This is the section of the Trademark Act that gives pretty much unfettered discretion to a trademark examiner...
View ArticleAnd Then a Sensible Dinner
by Jay Marshall Wolman, CIPP/US I was driving home from Philadelphia this past Sunday after a wedding, when I learned about the dietary habits of Attorney Rand Spear. (Something like the Rand...
View ArticleA Slanted View of Trademarks and Free Speech
by Jay Marshall Wolman Free speech and the Lanham Act (the federal law dealing with trademarks) has been a hot topic of late. There are two high profile matters in separate courts of appeals...
View ArticleSpics Not Welcome
by Jay Marshall Wolman By now, you have probably heard that Simon Tam won his case before the Federal Circuit regarding his attempt to register a trademark for his band “The Slants”. (Disclosure:...
View ArticleSuper Bowling for Dollars
by Jay Marshall Wolman Yesterday, on Twitter (yes, I’m on Twitter @wolmanj), I shared an article by Mike Masnick from 2012 regarding the myth of the Big Game/Super Bowl nomenclature. It seems the...
View ArticleHungry Like the Wolf
by Jay Marshall Wolman In the wake of Super Bowl XLIV, Katy Pery’s backup dancer “Left Shark”, disputes among intellectual property lawyers arose as to what kind, if any, protection was available to...
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