United States: Trademark

Can the sale of just four saxophones over three years be enough to prevent a U.S. trademark registration from being cancelled for abandonment? This case examines the critical distinction between minimal use and bona fide use in trademark law, exploring what constitutes sufficient commercial activity to maintain trademark rights when a historic brand is challenged by a competitor.

A trademark infringement lawsuit over a Mickey Mantle trading card reveals the complex legal landscape surrounding name, image, and likeness rights in sports collectibles.

Businesses increasingly rely on AI for legal guidance, but artificial intelligence often provides generic solutions without understanding specific circumstances. This article examines the growing trend of clients arriving at law firms with AI-generated legal plans and explores why professional judgment remains essential in determining what legal protections companies actually need versus what AI suggests they should have.

When outdoor apparel giant Patagonia sued drag queen and climate activist Pattie Gonia over trademark infringement, the case ignited a firestorm of public backlash that transcended legal boundaries. This dispute examines how trademark enforcement collides with cultural expression in the drag community, where performers traditionally adopt playful names referencing established brands, and explores the delicate balance between protecting intellectual property rights and maintaining brand reputation

Intellectual property has become central to innovation and entrepreneurship, yet most students receive little instruction on protecting ideas or understanding creative rights. This article explores how schools can introduce age-appropriate IP concepts from elementary through college, equipping future professionals with essential knowledge to navigate ownership, collaboration, and commercialization in the modern economy.

Buc-ee's aggressive trademark enforcement against a small Ohio convenience store has sparked national backlash, raising critical questions about when protecting legal rights begins damaging brand reputation. The case illustrates how enforcement actions can amplify the very threats they aim to suppress, transforming obscure defendants into sympathetic underdogs while generating boycotts, political criticism, and reputational harm that may exceed the original business risk.

Survey controls are essential tools in litigation research that help eliminate noise and bias from survey data. Like placebos in medical research, controls detect responses influenced by factors other...

A federal court awarded $23.785 million in damages after finding that minimalist ice cream packaging infringed a competitor's trade dress, demonstrating how combinations of simple design elements can create protectable rights. The decision establishes concrete standards for defining packaging trade dress, preserving design records, and quantifying damages when aesthetic choices become marketplace identifiers.

International restaurant expansion often generates legal problems before anyone believes there is much legal work to do. A team finds a location and negotiates the lease before confirming that the hours, the liquor service, and the patio are permitted at that address. An executive chef flies in to train the kitchen on a visitor stamp.