Unless you’ve been living under a Geodude this past month, you’ve no doubt been exposed (either willingly or unwillingly) to some part of the current social media/mobile gaming sensation, Pokemon GO. Niantic’s new “catch ’em all” treasure hunting mobile game is lighting up Charmander tails across the globe with approximately 75 million downloads and roughly
July 2016
Is the US Olympic Committee’s #TwitterBan Fair or Foul?
The 2016 Summer Olympics will officially* begin in eight days. Yet the U.S. Olympic Committee’s (USOC) efforts to enforce the Olympic trademarks are truly an eternal battle. While the USOC has a reputation for aggressively enforcing its trademark rights, the USOC seems to have set a new personal record for aggressive tactics, attempting to enforce…
When Should a Brand Get Involved in Social Issues?
– Jason Sprenger – President, Game Changer Communications
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that 2016 will go down as a year that a lot of social issues in America boiled over. Transgender people and the bathrooms they use. The role of law enforcement in society, and how they relate to the people…
2(c) or Not to See Political TM Speech?
That is the question, at least for the day.
It’s also a question we hope the U.S. Supreme Court will address.
In particular, does a careful focus on the USPTO’s routine application of Section 2(c) of the Lanham Act, help shed light on why Section 2(a) actually doesn’t violate the First Amendment?
The Olympics! Officially Protected from Zika by OFF!
The Summer Olympics are with us again, in what has been a great summer for sports. Besides the normal summer sports highlights, soccer fans have gotten a special second year in a row of the Copa America, not so great if you’re a Messi fan. That happened to land in the same summer as…
A Prime Concern: Counterfeiting on Amazon
-Wes Anderson, Attorney
Readers: find any good deals on Prime Day? For my part, I abstained. I’ve had a “Gold Box” deal sitting in the box for about 6 months now — turns out, I really didn’t need a pressure cooker.
If you did seize upon Prime Day, here’s hoping you got exactly what you…
Trademark Goods/Services Limitations, Why Not Exclude Any Federal Unlawful Activities?
Those involved in the cannabis industry — where certain activities are legal in some States, but unlawful under federal law — continue to search for creative strategies and solutions in protecting their trademarks and service marks.
Picking up where Tim left off last Friday, I’ve been giving some thought as to how the Herbal…
USPTO Keeps the Door Locked for Marijuana-related Services
Medical marijuana is currently legal in 25 states, including four states that have also legalized recreational use (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington). On Nov. 8, California voters will have a chance to make their state the next to legalize recreational use. As a dollar amount, Forbes estimated that Colorado’s marijuana industry was worth $1 billion…
POKEMON GO Caught By…POKEMON?
-Martha Engel, Attorney
Last week was rough. We went from celebrating America to watching her at her worst. We saw officers shoot two black men in Baton Rouge, LA and Falcon Heights, MN, a black man shoot cops in Dallas, and resulting social unrest (including my hometown police being hit with concrete last weekend and…
Standard Character Trademark Overbreadth
When we hear the word “overbreadth” in close connection with the word “trademark,” the often discussed “trademark bullying” topic will frequently come to mind.
Yet, discussions about “trademark overbreadth” are not limited to exaggerated and unrealistic trademark claims by a trademark owner.
We previously have discussed how one might deal with prior…