In a recent (non-precedential) decision , the TTAB refused to register the mark MEAT CANDY as being merely descriptive of Applicant's restaurant services. To anyone who is not a meat connoisseur, a 2(e)(1) refusal seems to be...more
The December issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to Market TM newsletter discusses key takeaways as a result of a recent TTAB case in which a trademark was found to be laudatory, sends seasons greetings from the firm, and...more
Brand owners seeking federal protection for their service marks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") often struggle with how to define their services in the application.
While the Trademark Act defines...more
In years past, "wearable technology" was pretty much limited to wristwatches and miners' headlamps. Today, wearable technology is one of the fastest growing segments in the technology marketplace. Countless consumer products...more
As you may have heard, the USPTO has commenced a pilot program to allow, under limited circumstances, amendments to identifications of goods/services in trademark registrations to account for evolving technology. Amendments...more
Wherever we look, trademarks are getting smaller. From app icons to college stickers on cars, brands are shrinking as the competition for consumers' attention grows more fierce. A few years ago, parents proudly displayed...more
Consent agreements - in which a prior U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rights-holder provides consent to registration of a later-filed trademark - can be an efficient path to registration in situations where the...more
The July issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter explains why two pronged protection is the best approach for product configuration, discusses the importance of coordination between legal and marketing...more
Canada has amended its Trademark Law, and although the amended Law's effective date is not yet known, brand owners can expect three significant changes to Canadian trademark law practice.
First, to U.S. brand owners...more
Brand owners have embraced hashtags (words or phrases preceded by a hash or pound sign - #) as a way to both engage consumers and track social media posts regarding a specific product or topic. Not surprisingly, the...more
Brand owners interested in protecting their intellectual property in Russia should be aware of two recent important changes to Russian trademark law.
A win for senior trademark rights holder: Publication of trademark...more
Grabbing and keeping the consumer's attention can be difficult, especially in the online marketplace where advertisements and surveys obscure content on the screen and distract the viewer. Most marketers know that animation...more
In This Issue:
- I Second that e-Motion: Protecting Motion Marks
- USPTO Begins Accepting International Design Applications
- Attending INTA Annual Meeting
- gTLD Sunrise Periods Now Open
- Excerpt...more