Articles
News, Press and Industry Updates from Cohen IP Law Group
Trademark Rejection of Khoran Wine
Last week, a panel of five TTAB judges shot down an application for wines bearing the trademark name Khoran. The decision was made based on the trademark’s similarity with the holy text of Islam, the Koran. The panel rejected the application on the basis of disparagement. In re Lebanese Arak Corporation. In previous cases, the…
READ MORECybersquatting of New Domain Names
Here’s some interesting news: The likelihood of cybersquatting remains high for .com’s but is much less ICANN’s new domains. According to a recent study by a top-level domain (TLD) consulting firm called Minds+Machines, internet domains other than .com (such as .net, .biz and .info) aren’t currently pursued by cybersquatters. Furthermore, the study suggests that the…
READ MOREAMEX Black Card Trademark Infringement
American Express’s Centurion Card, also known as the “black card” has become an iconic status symbol in American pop culture. The card has no limit and a whopping 2,500 annual fee. Introduced in 1999, the card quickly gained attention in books, rap songs, and TV shows. American Express really had a hit on their hands….
READ MOREBaseball Trademark Infringement Slugout with Major League and Upper Deck Trading Cards
Last week, Major League Baseball settled a trademark infringement case against the Carlsbad, CA based trading card company, Upper Deck. Upper Deck failed to completely eliminate the MLB logo from some lines of their 2010 baseball cards. Although Upper Deck’s 2010 baseball cards did not display MLB’s logo on any of its packaging or cards,…
READ MORETrek Trademark Infringement…Dismissed!
In true David vs. Goliath style, an obscure California winery held its ground in court yesterday against Trek, the largest U.S. manufacturer of bicycles and related products. Novato-based Trek Wines was sued by Trek Bicycle Corporation in October 2009 for trademark infringement, in the matter of Trek Bicycle Corporation v. Trek Winery, LLC, in the…
READ MOREFacebook Patent Unleashed!
Facebook obtains potentially powerful patent on Newsfeed technology In 2006, Facebook filed a patent application on its much-imitated Newsfeed technology. Last week the patent was granted. Facebook has yet to announce any plans for legal action, but Web sites all over must be feeling more than a little apprehensive. After all, Twitter is essentially one…
READ MORESoftware Patents and Business Methods Patents, Are They Patentable?
Are software and business methods patentable? If you have been Googling the topic recently, you may have heard that the US Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit have heard a series of different cases during the past few years regarding it. Before I get into the history below, the short answer is still generally yes…
READ MORECopyright Infringement Harry Potter Style
A 36 page children’s book from a now-deceased and totally obscure British author may have lead to Harry Potter. Last week, the Associated Press reported that J.K. Rowling and her publisher are being sued for copyright infringement. The estate of Adrian Jacobs, who died penniless in 1997, alleges that Rowling’s fourth book, “Harry Potter and…
READ MORETrademark Oppositions Cancellations Get Accelerated Case Resolution
If you know about trademark oppositions and cancellations before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), then here is a new procedure that may be right for you. The TTAB has recently introducted Accelerated Case Resolution (ACR). ACR is streamed line procedure used during an existing opposition and cancellation. It works like this: In the…
READ MOREPopular Posts
When Does Your Trademark Protection Begin?
We’ve had the opportunity to talk about how vital a legal tool Trademark is for any company out there. Not only does it promote your…
Kanye West’s Yeezy Trademark and Chinese Issues, Don’t Believe the Hype
There has been several articles written, mostly inaccurate and misleading, indicating that a Chinese company has taken the Yeezy trademarks. This is likely not the…
Trademark Lawyers, Why You Should Hire One
Here is a great posting by the United States Patent and Trademark Office regarding why you should hire a trademark lawyer to file your trademark…