» Trademarks

Johnny Cash Estate Sues C…

Johnny Cash Estate Sues Coca-Cola over Soundalike Ad

Billboard reports that the estate of Johnny Cash has sued Coca-Cola for using a soundalike singer in an ad that plays between college football games as part of its “Fan Work Is Thirsty Work” campaign. The singer in the ad is Shawn Barker, a profe… Read More
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Circuit Court Vacates $1.5 Million Award in Fake Law Firm Trademark Case

Circuit Court Vacates $1.5 Million Award in Fake Law Firm Trademark Case

The Fifth Circuit has vacated a $1.5 million damages award in a case involving a fake law firm trademark. The case is Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP v. Bitgood. Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP (LBBS) is a Texas law firm. LBBS sued M… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Ninth Circuit Rules in Tr…

Ninth Circuit Rules in Trader Joe’s Trademark Dispute with Union

The Ninth Circuit has reserved the Central District of California’s dismissal of trademark infringement claims brought by grocery store chain Trader Joe’s against a labor union representing some of its employees. The case is in Trader Joe’s Co.… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
BVI IP Holding Company Su…

BVI IP Holding Company Subject to US Jurisdiction Due to Trademark Enforcement

The 11th Circuit has reversed a decision by a Georgia federal district court dismissing trademark infringement and cancellation claims against an intellectual property (IP) holding company headquartered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). The circui… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
4th Circuit Vacates “Mo…

4th Circuit Vacates “Moke” Trademark Ruling

The Fourth Circuit has vacated and remanded an opinion by a lower court finding that the term “MOKE” is a generic term for the style of vehicles sold by both of the parties to the dispute. The case is Moke America LLC v. Moke International Ltd. A… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Ninth Circuit: Sales of E…

Ninth Circuit: Sales of Equity Can’t Constitute Trademark Infringement

The Ninth Circuit has affirmed a ruling that the advertisement and sale of equity in a company cannot constitute trademark infringement. The case is LegalForce RAPC Worldwide, P.C. v. LegalForce Inc. LegalForce RAPC Worldwide, P.C. (“LegalForce USA… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Second Circuit Finds Pers…

Second Circuit Finds Personal Jurisdiction over Chinese Company in “American Girl” Doll Case

The Second Circuit has reversed a ruling by a federal court in the Southern District of New York dismissing copyright and trademark claims over sales of counterfeit “American Girl” dolls. The Circuit Court found that the defendant Chinese company… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Federal Circuit Vacates S…

Federal Circuit Vacates Summary Judgement on Collateral Estoppel Issue

The Federal Circuit has vacated a summary judgment ruling in a patent case involving Qualcomm, finding that the court erred in its application of collateral estoppel and abused its discretion in excluding expert testimony on patent validity. The case… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Trademark Office Cancels…

Trademark Office Cancels DC and Marvel Superhero Trademarks

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) canceled four SUPER HERO trademarks jointly owned by Marvel and DC after a challenge by a comic writer. As TechDirt explains, Scott Richold is a British comic artist who produces the Superbabies line of com… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks
Congress and Copyright Office Focus on New AI Digital Image Laws

Congress and Copyright Office Focus on New AI Digital Image Laws

The US Congress and the US Copyright Office have been thinking about how laws should be adjusted to deal with artificial intelligence (AI). The US Copyright Office has issued a report recommending the creation of a new federal law that would create a… Read More
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Categories: Trademarks