Gerben Law Firm's Trademark Blog

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are rising in popularity.  This has lead to an increase in the number of trademark filings around NFT brands at the USPTO. NFTs represent unique digital items such as digital art, audio, video, and other creative works that can be purchased using blockchain technology. Recently, entities like the Chainsmokers and Andy Warhol’s […]

Last year, the WNBA filed a trademark application for “WUBBLE.” This was the WNBA’s version of the “Bubble” for the WBNA’s season in 2020. While the WNBA’s application was approved by the USPTO for registration, in January 2021 and the makers of the WUBBBLE Ball subsequently filed an “extension of time to oppose” the application.  […]

Your logo is one of the key elements of your branding. Through its stylization and design, it embodies your business and helps your products and services standout to your customer base. Something this valuable to your company necessitates protection, and one of the best ways to safeguard your logo is obtaining a trademark registration for […]

The NCAA has filed a Petition for Cancellation against the trademark owned by a Virginia Urology practice for “VASECTOMY MAYHEM.” The registration was issued in September 2020 for vasectomy services. Now, what does the NCAA have to do with vasectomies? According to the cancellation petition, the NCAA alleged Virginia Urology started off by using “Vasectomy […]

Monster Energy is known to have a significant trademark enforcement program around its ‘MONSTER’ trademark and associated logos.  In one notable case, Monster Energy ignited a six-year long trademark dispute with the Toronto Raptors by opposing the team’s trademark applications for a “claw-tearing-through-basketball” logo. The concern about Monster Energy’s trademark enforcement tactics is that they […]

Just like any other kind of property, intellectual property is able to be bought and sold. Unlike physical property, however, there is an added complexity to IP transactions that coincides with the transfer of the intangible value that it possesses. The price tag set on your trademarks, copyrights, or patents is determined by numerous factors, […]

Food trucks seem to be on every corner, and the outdoor, mobile nature of the services makes it an ideal way to launch a new concept for food and drink. The food truck industry is experiencing exponential growth, with an estimated 26,000+ food truck companies in the United States. With COVID-19 pandemic-related social distance and […]

In late 2020, pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna applied to register a simple design used on the packaging for its COVID-19 vaccine with the USPTO. My first reaction as a trademark attorney: Why would you apply for that? The mark is not highly distinctive and would not add much over existing registrations for MODERNA. Then […]

Taylor Swift’s company, TAS Rights Management, filed 25 trademark applications on February 10th and 11th for variations of “TAYLOR’S VERSION.” Swift announced that she will be re-recording all six albums made under her previous label, Big Machine Records, all of which have since been sold to Shamrock Capital. Not only did Swift file “TAYLOR’S VERSION” […]

China, home to one of the largest economies in the world, is often a business’s first target when looking to file international trademarks. However, the rigors of successfully filing and maintaining a trademark registration in such a competitive market are many. In order to protect your trademark in China, it is imperative that you understand […]

The primary motivation for seeking a trademark registration is often the protection that it can provide, typically in order to prevent infringement upon the registered mark. Regardless of the circumstances, dealing with trademark infringement when it does occur can be a daunting task. So, what should you do if another party is using your trademark? […]

When discussing the trademarks, copyrights, and patents that may be needed for your business endeavors, the phrase “intellectual property” may also accompany these conversations. As you look to safeguard the brand you have built, it is critical to know how intellectual property law applies to your company. At its core, intellectual property law seeks to […]