United States: Trademark

Nike's attempt to register a B9 logo for basketball player Bronny James has been rejected due to a conflict with an existing trademark from Black 9 Golf. This case highlights the complexities of trademark registration in the sports and fashion industry, where brand protection and potential conflicts must be carefully navigated.

The USPTO has announced significant updates to its data access requirements, pilot programs, and trademark examination procedures. New precedential and informative decisions from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board establish important standards for Director discretion in AIA reviews and address inconsistent claim construction positions between Board proceedings and district court litigation.

Kansas City Chiefs stars face legal action over alleged trademark infringement related to a steakhouse venture. The lawsuit raises questions about intellectual property rights and the use of celebrity names in commercial enterprises.

Adding to case law addressing franchisor–franchisee disputes involving system departures and post-termination competition, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued its opinion...

Stadium naming rights and sponsorship agreements involve complex negotiations between venue operators and brand marketers, requiring careful attention to trademark licensing, exclusivity provisions, and long-term risk allocation. Legal practitioners must navigate intricate issues ranging from signage placement and digital visibility to player name-image-likeness rights and force majeure provisions.

Fraudsters are exploiting publicly available USPTO trademark application data to send sophisticated phishing emails that impersonate federal correspondence and demand participation in fake "mandatory verification appointments." These scams use real application details to pressure trademark applicants into providing payment information and personal data under threat of application abandonment.

May is Small Business Month, and as businesses build momentum, protecting brand value becomes critical. Many growing companies assume basic steps like using TM symbols or registering an LLC provide adequate trademark protection...

As "dupe culture" continues to reshape consumer markets and brand loyalty, Marshall Gerstein attorneys discuss the growing legal and business challenges surrounding lookalike consumer products and trademark enforcement in the age of social media. The conversation explores how online marketplaces, influencer culture, and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping how brands approach intellectual property protection.

Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey are pioneering a novel legal strategy to combat AI-generated deepfakes by filing federal trademark applications for their voices and likenesses.