Category: Trademarks

Federal Circuit Finds Sua Sponte is Not a Good Vintage

Legal decisions, like fine wine, should be balanced. The Federal Circuit recently corked a non-precedential TTAB decision that ECHO D’ANGÉLUS was not confusingly similar to ECHO DE LYNCH BAGES, where both were used for wine, because the TTAB relied on a concept that no party…

Spotlight or Lawsuit? Strategic Brand Use in Film and Media

A. Blue Devil in the Details: When Logos Steal the Scene When The White Lotus returned to HBO for its third season, it came with the usual dose of dramatic tension, along with one unexpected intellectual property wrinkle. [WARNING – Potential Plot Spoiler Ahead!] In…

John Wick Targets Jane Wick with Trademark Opposition

John Wick is a highly successful film franchise starring Keanu Reeves as a hitman who reluctantly emerges from retirement to avenge the killing of his pet beagle (among other offenses committed by a group of not-very-nice Russian gangsters). The first movie in the series came…

Canada: Updates on Language Requirements for Trademarks in Quebec and Cancellation Pilot Project for Trademark Registrations

Our friendly neighbors in the Great White North are implementing important changes in 2025 with respect to language requirements for trademarks and a new pilot project initiated by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) to issue cancellation proceedings against trademark registrations based upon non-use. Language…