Gerben Law Firm's Trademark Blog

 One of the biggest questions we get from clients is, “How do I register my trademark internationally?” Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a single way to register your trademark in every country around the world. Each individual country is its own sovereign and requires its own trademark application. So, regardless of how you […]

As the owner of a U.S. registered trademark, you understand and appreciate the legal protections your trademark provides. Those legal protections, however, only apply to trademark disputes within the United States. In order to gain international trademark protections, you must register your mark outside the U.S., in countries where you are currently doing business, and […]

The Toronto Raptors do not own a federal trademark registration for the team’s “claw on a basketball” logo. Our story starts in 2014 when the Raptors redesigned their logo to what it is today (with Canadian rapper Drake having an important consulting role). The Raptors filed 18 trademark applications around the new logo.  Then, in […]

In the clothing industry, branding is everything. To be successful, you must protect and manage your brand while your business and your clothing line grow. A trademark registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, is the best way to both protect and maintain control of your brand. While there are costs […]

  The XFL is actively pursuing a trademark registration for “HE HATE ME.”   For those that remember the original days of the XLF, HE HATE ME is actually Rod Smart, who made the phrase famous by putting it on the back of his jersey.  Rod Smart continued to use the nickname after the XFL disbanded […]

  Two very interesting filings were recently made by Tom Brady’s company, TEB Capital. TEB Capital is the entity that owns all the “TB12” trademarks that Tom has used and registered. As you can see in the video above, there were two new trademark filings made on May 24 for “TOM TERRIFIC.” Tom Terrific is […]

If you own a registered trademark in the U.S., you understand the importance of the legal protections provided to you and your brand. These protections, however, will only apply to legal disputes within the United States. In order to gain trademark protections internationally, you must register your trademark in the countries and regions where you […]

As a new brand seeking to establish itself as a reputable source of products and sources, a trademark registration is an excellent way to provide a greater sense of authenticity and legitimacy for the brand, as well as produce a barrier of legal protection for the brand you have worked so hard to build. Prior […]

Licensing a trademark is one of several ways for a brand-owner to monetize its brand. Brand owners can enter into exclusive, or non-exclusive licensing deals with others to expand into new markets, develop new product lines, or embark on new collaborations. But what kind of risks do parties need to consider when entering into a […]

When you registered your trademark with the USPTO, you may not have considered one day allowing others to use it.  Now, as your business expands and your brand is becoming more recognizable, it may be time to consider licensing your trademark.  Trademark licensing is an agreement in which a registered trademark owner, the licensor, grants […]

An interesting trademark filing was recently made by New Balance for “4 Bounces.” The trademark application was filed the day after Kawhi Leonard hit that shot that bounced four times on the rim, then went in, sending the Toronto Raptors to the Eastern Conference Finals. Taking a look at the timestamp on the application, it […]

Imagine this: your company has spent the last year discretely planning the launch of your next flagship product. A significant amount of money has been spent developing a brand, and you’re ready to file the Federal trademark application to secure an early priority date before you launch in the U.S. Your company files, only to […]