Augusta National filed a trademark application in February 2019 for an actual green jacket. Despite already owning trademark registrations on the phrase “green jacket,” Augusta National had not yet applied for the actual jacket itself. When making a trademark filing on a trade dress such as this, you need to submit a [...]
A registered trademark is a valuable asset to any business. While registering a trademark may seem fairly simple, the process is actually quite detailed and requires many legal decisions along the way. Choosing to take on this task alone can lead to unnecessary errors, costly re-filings, and even rejection. Whether you are just beginning to [...]
The protections you receive as a U.S. trademark owner are a valuable asset to your business. However, it is important to know that those protections only apply to trademark disputes within the United States. Whether your retail store reaches customers in Europe or you plan to manufacture products in Asia, it is time to consider [...]
In today’s global economy, it is smart to consider trademark registration in China. Whether you plan to manufacture your product in Beijing or you already reach customers in Shanghai, it is important to begin the process as soon as possible. Bad faith trademark registrations are on the rise in China, and the best way to [...]
The story of how the NCAA obtained the “March Madness” trademark spans more than half a century. Back in the early 1940s, the Illinois State High School Association coined the phrase “March Madness” for its state-wide basketball tournament. This association used the phrase undisturbed for nearly 40 years, until 1982, when Brent Musburger [...]
What does proof of commercial use mean in the context of a trademark application? We get this question all the time. We often file trademarks for businesses that aren’t up and running based on an intent to use a trademark. The benefit of filing it on that intent to use, is that the priority date [...]
On Monday, March 25, the Supreme Court issued a notice saying that it would not hear a lawsuit brought by the photographer that shot a famous Michael Jordan image. The photographer claimed that Nike infringed on his copyright, because the company took his image and turned into the Jumpman logo. The case [...]
If you’ve recently registered your U.S. trademark, you may be wondering how to extend your trademark protections overseas. A trademark registered in the United Kingdom provides trademark rights and protections in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Whether your online retail shop has customers in Glasgow, or you plan to open a brick and mortar [...]
Penn State University’s trademark application on ‘Happy Valley’ was initially refused on March 11, 2019 by the trademark office. The office action, USPTO code for refusing an application initially, was given for two main reasons. 1. The trademark office found the trademark to be geographically descriptive. As ‘Happy Valley’ is a commonly [...]
Josh uses his extensive trademark knowledge and experience to provide readers with insight into a variety of trademark issues.
Eric's experience in office action responses, trademark protection, and a variety of other issues gives him a unique viewpoint in the field of trademark law.
Colleen's keen insights in the business community allow her to counsel clients from the beginning stages of the application to in-depth enforcement matters.
