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Tag Archives: Disparagement

And, Here’s . . . Jimmy’s Johnnys

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Dilution, Famous Marks, Food, Marketing, Television, Trademarks, TTAB

One good thing leads to another, or perhaps, vice versa (then again, maybe not):      Odds are, you probably are familiar with the logo on the left, but maybe not the history behind the brand and company it represents. Apparently, a guy named Jimmy John Liataud founded Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches in Charleston, Illinois, in 1983, and since then, has grown… Continue Reading

Tripartite Branding Trouble: The Name is Suk?

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Goodwill, Marketing, Trademarks

"The name is Bond, James Bond," said Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Daniel Craig, among others, countless times in film, as part of the famous 007 series. An ideal name for a secret agent. A name and line not easily forgotten, as brands and taglines should be. And then, there are some names you’d like to forget, but can’t, especially if… Continue Reading

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Redskins Trademark Case

Posted in Advertising, Branding, Trademarks, TTAB

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the requested appeal of Harjo v. Pro-Football, Inc., the nearly two-decade old trademark case seeking cancellation of the U.S. Trademark Registrations owned by the NFL franchise in the Nation’s Capitol. In doing so, the highest Court in the land, has permitted the laches ruling to stand. Basically, permitting dismissal of the action given a… Continue Reading

Supreme Court Asked to Review Washington Redskins Trademark Case

Posted in Advertising, Branding, First Amendment, Law Suits, Marketing, Trademarks, TTAB

Back in May, I wrote a piece entitled "Re-Branding Madness in Washington" Overlooks Obvious: The Washington Redskins," discussing the trademark cancellation action that I filed on behalf of seven prominent Native American leaders back in September 1992 (Harjo et al v. Pro-Football, Inc.), and calling for the football team to "hire a branding guru to engage… Continue Reading

“Re-Branding Madness in Washington” Overlooks Obvious: The Washington Redskins

Posted in Branding, First Amendment, Law Suits, Marketing, Trademarks

Re-branding occurs all the time. Re-branding occurs in business. Remember when Bell Atlantic became Verizon? Andersen Consulting became Accenture? How about when Philip Morris became Altria?   Re-branding occurs in politics too. Just days ago, Judson Berger discussed a kind of "re-branding madness" consuming Washington, D.C. right now: "Terrorist attack is out. — ‘man caused disaster’ is in." Our friends at Catchword Branding had… Continue Reading