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Features

WTF? The Board Weighs In on Failure to Function Refusals Image

WTF? The Board Weighs In on Failure to Function Refusals

Christopher P. Bussert

Many trademark practitioners have noted the USPTO's recent penchant for issuing refusals to register trademarks on the ground of failure to function as a trademark. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board picked a colorful case to set precedent and provide some initial guidance on how it will evaluate failure-to-function refusals going forward.

Columns & Departments

IP News Image

IP News

Howard Shire & Stephanie Remy

Federal Circuit: Trade Dress Imitation In the Ninth Circuit

Features

Federal Judge Takes Aim at Legal Process for Targeting Counterfeit Merchandisers Image

Federal Judge Takes Aim at Legal Process for Targeting Counterfeit Merchandisers

Stan Soocher

The rebound in concert tours and ticket revenues as 2022 has unfolded gives the live events industry hope for a strong 2023, too. For many tours, though, it's income from merchandise that makes the tour profitable. Thus, the rise in the number of artists touring also means a parallel resurgence in the activities of counterfeit-merchandise sellers and renewed efforts by the industry to battle its long-time problem with the sale of counterfeit merchandise near event venues.

Features

IP Rights In the Metaverse Image

IP Rights In the Metaverse

Dyan Finguerra-DuCharme & Abla Belhachmi

The metaverse, an immersive virtual experience building on the Internet and the physical world, has become a prominent force in branding and marketing for companies struggling to keep up in an ever so globalized economy. Parallel to this digital expansion has been a surge of intellectual property issues.

Features

Protecting a Trademark Licensor's Rights In a Bankruptcy Case Image

Protecting a Trademark Licensor's Rights In a Bankruptcy Case

Alfred S. Lurey

A recent bankruptcy case from the District of Delaware underscores the need for a trademark licensor to be alert to filings made in its licensee's bankruptcy case that may require prompt action by the licensor to protect its valuable rights under a license agreement.

Features

Digital Advertising: Customer Confusion and Trademark Infringement Image

Digital Advertising: Customer Confusion and Trademark Infringement

Stephen M. Kramarsky & John Millson

In the absence of a federal statutory scheme specifically aimed at digital advertising practices, the courts have focused on consumer-facing issues covered by existing law, such as privacy, transparency, and deceptive or misleading advertising practices. But digital advertising technology can also present new challenges in copyright and trademark protection.

Features

Quebec's Bill 96 and Trademarks: Product Packaging and Labelling Image

Quebec's Bill 96 and Trademarks: Product Packaging and Labelling

Jean-Philippe Mikus, Eliane Ellbogen, & Isabelle Kalar

The modifications brought by the Quebec's Bill 96 will have a far-reaching impact on how businesses use trademarks on product packaging, labelling, public signage and in commercial advertising. This article is Part One of a two-part series on Bill 96 and trademarks and covers the effects as they relate to product packaging and labelling and how best to comply with these new provisions.

Features

Proper Notice of Trademark Rights: Using Trademark Symbols for Three-Dimensional Packaging and Product Designs Image

Proper Notice of Trademark Rights: Using Trademark Symbols for Three-Dimensional Packaging and Product Designs

Stephen Lott & Lauren Gregory

Among the most common questions trademark attorneys are asked is what the differences are between the symbols ®, TM, and SM. When should such symbols should be used? Where should they appear? How frequently? Do they even need to be used at all?

Features

Brands In the Metaverse: What You Need to Know Image

Brands In the Metaverse: What You Need to Know

Brandon Leahy & Chloe Delehanty 

While it is still unknown how the metaverse will take shape, lawyers advising brands should familiarize themselves with the opportunities it presents, the risks involved, and strategies to consider for enhancing and protecting a client's brand.

Features

Trademark Oppositions and Coexistence Agreements Image

Trademark Oppositions and Coexistence Agreements

Ben Thompson & Robert Moorman

There are frequent battles over trademark rights in the entertainment industry. Trademark publication can be an anxious part of the federal application process, with fear of aggressive opposition and costly proceedings looming in the background. But many trademark oppositions, whether they are only threatened or actually filed, afford the applicant a discussion with an opposer that can ultimately be helpful in nonobvious ways.

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