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Features

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects 'Defense Preclusion' in Trademark Suit Image

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects 'Defense Preclusion' in Trademark Suit

Anthony J. Dreyer

On May 14, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court resolved a circuit split, finding that any preclusion of litigation defenses must comply with traditional res judicata principles, and ruling that Lucky Brand was not precluded from asserting its defenses in its long-standing trademark litigation against Marcel Fashions Group

Features

TRO Bid in Arts Case Results in COVID-19 Rebuke from Judge Image

TRO Bid in Arts Case Results in COVID-19 Rebuke from Judge

Jenna Greene

At this moment in COVID-19 time, if your case involved stopping the sale of counterfeit unicorn products on the Internet, sorry, that wouldn't be an emergency. That was the message from U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger, in a decision denying a request for a temporary restraining order filed on behalf of Art Ask Agency, the exclusive licensee for the fantasy art of British artist Anne Stokes, who is popular among the Dungeons and Dragons crowd.

Features

The Trademark That Got His Goat Image

The Trademark That Got His Goat

Mary A. Donovan

In a recent trademark cancellation case that has drawn "human interest" attention in the news, the plaintiff appealed an adverse decision to the Federal Circuit. The plaintiff was not "kidding" when he expressed his opinion that the registered mark, described as "goats on a roof of grass," is demeaning to goats which, in turn, is offensive to him.

Features

When Are Short Phrases in Songs Protectable? Image

When Are Short Phrases in Songs Protectable?

Robert W. Clarida & Robert J. Bernstein

It's a common fact pattern: A songwriter alleges that another songwriter has infringed the lyrics of Song A by using a similar short phrase, frequently a current slang phrase, in the lyrics of Song B. Claims like this do not often succeed because "words and short phrases such as names, titles, and slogans" are "not subject to copyright."

Columns & Departments

IP News Image

IP News

Anthony H. Cataldo

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Booking.com Trademark Case

Features

Exploring the Nebulous Boundaries of Trade Dress Image

Exploring the Nebulous Boundaries of Trade Dress

Nicole D. Galli 

Now that we are in the digital age, questions have been raised about the trade dress of websites and apps.

Columns & Departments

IP News Image

IP News

Howard Shire & Christine Weller

Penn State Files Trademark Lawsuit against Sports Beer Brewing Company Can OSU Trademark the Word "The"?

Features

Seeing Green: Protecting Brands In the Cannabis Industry Image

Seeing Green: Protecting Brands In the Cannabis Industry

David S. Gold

Branding is not a new concept, nor are the various intellectual property laws that protect brands. What is new to most is how this burgeoning industry can take advantage of those laws within the context of state and federal restrictions.

Features

SCOTUS to Address Whether Lanham Act Requires Willful Infringement for Profit Disgorgement Image

SCOTUS to Address Whether Lanham Act Requires Willful Infringement for Profit Disgorgement

Norman C. Simon & Patrick J. Campbell

The decision in Romag Fasteners v. Fossil will bring welcome uniformity, ending the status quo where eligibility to recover profits under the Lanham Act depends on which court is deciding the dispute

Features

Limit in Supreme Court Striking Down Ban On 'Scandalous' Trademarks Image

Limit in Supreme Court Striking Down Ban On 'Scandalous' Trademarks

Brian R. Michalek

In the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Iancu v. Brunetti, Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissent cautioned that the decision is likely to pave a path to a "coming rush to register [vulgar, profane, or obscene] trademarks." The reasoning stems from the court's majority finding that a portion of 15 U.S.C. §1052 — which had previously prohibited the registering of "immoral" or "scandalous" trademarks — is unconstitutional. Practically speaking, however, this "coming rush" will likely not be the case, even via the entertainment industry.

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