Last week, our post was about a cross-border trademark fight between a nearly monolithic beer brewer and one that has no presence beyond a small town in one U.S. state. This week, we take another plunge into the brewing world without the tongue-in-cheek tone of the...
There's something about craft beer that seems to encourage unusual names. Who would drink a Pabst or Budweiser when there are such products available as Buttface Amber Ale? Or "I'll have what the gentleman on the floor is having - Polygamy Porter." From Palo Alto, we...
In our last post, we explored the issue of "genericide." As we discussed, the genericization of a product or a brand is something that attentive business people want to avoid. The risk is that if a trademark isn't defended and the product or service it's associated...
Some readers with receding hairlines or graying tresses will remember the age of generic products. Back in the 1980s, goods from bleach to spaghetti noodles started appearing in grocery stores. They stood out for what they lacked - specifically colorful labels,...
In our last post, we began looking at an ongoing lawsuit between two winemakers--one located in Clarksburg, California--which highlights the issue of federal trademark protection vs. state trademark protection. At the center of the disagreement is both companies' use...
In our previous post, we began looking at the topic of trademark protection. As we mentioned, the United States Patent and Trademark Office is the agency responsible for federally registering trademarks, but the USPTO does not enforce trademark protection against...
Branding is critical for the success of businesses in many industries, and trademark protection is an important area of law for businesses to understand when it comes to branding. Trademarks can be highly valuable, and can help propel a business into greater success...
Trademarks are a useful tool for businesses for a variety of reasons. We all come in contact with many trademarks on a daily basis and businesses are no exception, as a trademark can be considered another way to describe a brand. Trademarks are important to the growth...
Brand Image Protection: Little Caesars has gained consumer recognition for its PIZZA! PIZZA! mark. That mark is registered along with others, including PEPPERONI! PEPPERONI! However, Little Caesars' application to register DEEP! DEEP! DISH PIZZA was refused for being...
Brand Image Protection: The trademark UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON LAW CENTER enjoys an excellent, nationally recognized reputation for legal education services. That's not to suggest that the SOUTH TEXAS LAW SCHOOL, which has been around for 93 years, had a national...
