The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently issued a final rule adjusting certain trademark fees for United States trademark applications and registrations. Most aspects of the rule go into effect January 18, 2025, so practitioners and rights holders should be ready for the…
“Enjoy your reign while you may, Superman. For surely as night follows day, there comes a time when even gods must die.” – Lex Luthor, Superman: Doomsday Last month, the creators of beloved characters like “Superman” and “Spider-Man” declined to come to their…
In a potential shakeup for corporate liability, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument this year on whether a real estate developer’s corporate affiliates should be responsible for a $46.6 million trademark infringement judgment—despite not being defendants in the case. Plaintiff Dewberry Engineers Inc. and…
In Snap, Inc. v. Vidal, the Central District of California found the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) was wrong in finding that SnapChat’s SPECTACLES mark is generic for smart glasses. The district court’s opinion highlights the advantages of seeking de novo review of TTAB…
Artist Rights in Unauthorized Exhibitions Recent unauthorized Banksy exhibits highlight the ongoing struggle of what obligations society owes to artists. While intellectual property laws primarily provide artists with economic protections and redress, what of artists who are less concerned with economic remedies and more concerned…
Cognac, which originates from a specific region of France and is named after the commune of Cognac, is far more popular outside its native country. Indeed, according to the industry group Bureau National Interprofessional du Cognac or BNIC, an astonishing 98% of cognac is exported….
Allegations Against What-A-Burger #13 Whataburger has once again found itself in the news over a lawsuit it filed over naming rights against a long-standing East Coast burger establishment for its purported infringement of the WHATABURGER trademark. On June 11, 2024, Whatabrands LLC, the Texas-based burger…
In March 2019, Cologne & Cognac Entertainment of New Jersey filed a trademark application at the USPTO for recordings featuring music and artistic performances, music composition services, production of musical videos in the nature of live performances by musical artists, and providing related entertainment and…
It has been a year since the Supreme Court issued its decision in the multiple-year legal battle between VIP Products LLC and Jack Daniel’s. We covered this dispute when it was back at the 9th Circuit. As a recap, VIP produced a squeaky dog toy…
The Ninth Circuit issued two opinions in BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Central Coast Agriculture, Inc. finding judicial power over pending trademark applications and an exception shielding trademark registrations for marks used with cannabis products. BBK Tobacco & Foods LLC (“BBK”) markets a variety…
Jeffrey CadwellJeff advises clients on the availability, registrability, and stre...
Michael KeyesJ. Michael Keyes is an intellectual property attorney with exten...
Kaleb McNeelyAs a partner in the Trial Group, Kaleb practices primarily in the ...
Sarah RobertsonSarah has over fifteen years’ experience helping clients prot...
Fara SunderjiFara assists clients in the development and execution of all type...
Charlene KroghCharlene Krogh is a Partner in Dorsey’s top-ranked Tradem...
Evan EveristEvan is a partner in Dorsey’s Trademark, Copyright and Adverti...