So, tomorrow is the big day, the big game, or whatever else other intimidated advertisers might call it. I just want to find the best deal on a flat screen television today! But, more to Mike Masnick’s point on Techdirt about the NFL’s reputation as a “trademark bully,” and his challenge to advertisers — “It’s the Super Bowl…. Continue Reading
Tag Archives: Star Tribune
Why Publicity Matters, Part II (Best Publicity Strategy)
Posted in Guest Bloggers, Television—Neil F. Anderson, Founder/President, The Courage Group, Inc. Having already discussed Why Publicity Matters last week, the most effective publicity strategy is to position yourself as an expert in your field. Notice how the media, especially television, seems to have the same experts come on shows to comment on stories etc. This did not happen by accident… Continue Reading
How Much Government Do We Really Need?
Posted in Almost Advice, Guest Bloggers– James E. Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, President, The Lukaszewski Group Division of Risdall McKinney Public Relations I’m sitting here at 7:45 a.m. moving very slowly in what is the first of four daily rush hours in this lane of eastbound I-494 in South Minneapolis. One has to wonder what all the media excitement is… Continue Reading
3M v. Shoplet (A Post-It Brand Stick Up?)
Posted in Law SuitsLast Friday Twin Cities Business and the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported on 3M’s recent trademark infringement case filed against online retailer Shoplet. In case you haven’t seen it yet, here is a pdf of the complaint. It asserts a variety of violations of 3M’s exclusive rights in the federally-registered POST-IT trademark, including federal trademark infringement, false designation of… Continue Reading
Does Size Matter, When Identifying a “Trademark Bully”?
Posted in Counterfeits, Infringement, Law Suits, TrademarksWho says that being a large corporate trademark owner is one of the prerequisites to earning the emotionally-charged, pejorative, and ill-defined label "trademark bully"? Well, the original directive to the USPTO appears to assume that "trademark bullying" is a one-way street, disfavoring only large corporate trademark owners, and ignoring the possibility that individuals and small businesses are equally capable of deserving… Continue Reading
Buh-Bye B. Dalton
Posted in Branding, Domain Names, Famous Marks, Goodwill, TrademarksAs reported by the Star Tribune, the first B. Dalton Bookseller bookstore will be among the last to close: the B. Dalton bookstore at Southdale Center in Edina, Minnesota closes tomorrow after a 44 year run. Even if a bit sad for the sentimentalists among us (and I am one) to watch another relatively longstanding… Continue Reading
Lion’s Tap Reaches “Mutually Beneficial” Settlement with McDonalds
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Dilution, Famous Marks, Food, Infringement, Law Suits, Marketing, TrademarksA couple of hours ago Kare 11 News in Minneapolis reported "Lions Tap wins settlement with McDonalds." Absolutely no details about the settlement were provided, so it’s hard to understand how Kare 11 is able to pronounce this as a "win" for Lion’s Tap over McDonalds, although it certainly plays into the seductive David and Goliath theme of… Continue Reading
Update: Who’s Your Patty? Lawsuit and Reverse Confusion
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Dilution, Famous Marks, Food, Infringement, Law Suits, Marketing, TrademarksThe Minneapolis Star Tribune finally reported on the Who’s Your Patty? trademark infringement lawsuit filed in August by self-proclaimed "David" (Lion’s Tap) against "Goliath" (McDonald’s), here. Our previous coverage is here, here, and here. The Star Tribune reports that McDonald’s has not yet answered the complaint filed by Lion’s Tap. That’s true, but all that means is… Continue Reading
Still More on Polaroid: The Call For An Intellectual Property Genius!
Posted in Copyrights, Law Suits, TrademarksJennifer Bjorhus of the Star Tribune continues her close coverage of the Polaroid bankruptcy saga. For prior Polaroid posts, see here and here. In her latest report, here, the Court appointed receiver in the Polaroid bankruptcy, Doug Kelley, is quoted as saying "It will take an intellectual property genius to tell us whether the rights go along [with… Continue Reading
More on Polaroid: A Brand in Bankruptcy
Posted in Advertising, Branding, Famous Marks, Law Suits, TrademarksIt appeared Polaroid had a new owner as of last Thursday, but not Patriarch Partners who we posted about before here, so it now appears, it’s not over until its over. The latest is here.
Polaroid: A Brand in Bankruptcy
Posted in Branding, Law Suits, Marketing, Sight, Trademarks"Buy low, sell high. Fear? That’s the other guy’s problem." Can you name the origin of that quote?
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Duets Blog Authors
Steve Baird
Just so you know, I'm all about brands and the law, both professionally and personally. I regularly annoy family and friends in retail stores by focusing on product labels—not to buy the product, but to read the fine print and ask, "Who owns these brands" and "Did they really register those marks?" More...
Dan Kelly
You can call me a “non-traditional” attorney, which is a polite way of saying that I did not attend law school straight out of college. I spent five of my first six years after college as a junior high school teacher. The other year I worked as an engineer for a large corporation. More...
Sharon Armstrong
Voted most likely to become an actress while in pre-school, I don’t think I surprised anyone by becoming a lawyer, the steadiest professional gig open to those with a flair for the dramatic. More...
Brent Lorentz
Although I wish I could say my path to the law was the result of a lifelong dream or calling, it was more the result mere curiosity and an affinity for leather-bound books. More...
Catlan McCurdy
Having long been told by my parents that I could do or be anything I wanted, I chose at the age of 10 to become an attorney, as it was the career that would most likely lead me to my goal of becoming the first woman POTUS.More...
Tiffany Blofield
Although my initial career path was to be one of the Supremes (not the musically talented ones with platform shoes and sequins, but rather, the nine wearing sensible shoes and pressed black robes in DC), I will likely stay in Minnesota as I have never lived anywhere else. More...
Brad Walz
My law career started on the ice…as a defensive hockey player (we’re not talking professionally…and if I were, I probably wouldn’t have gotten into law). More...
Susan Perera
Born into the world with an aptitude for science and an affinity for art I found my career path quickly chosen for me. More...
Derek Allen
In hindsight, writing about creativity and the law may have always been in the cards for me. I began training for a career in litigation at an early age by finding ways to disagree with pretty much anyone about pretty much anything. In my longest-running “case,” I argued with my middle school math teacher, Mrs. Jabs, for the better part of four years over whether, even if I got the right answer, I had to show my work to get full credit. More...
Laura Gutierrez
An attorney I am not. Though told to become one, I don't possess those qualities needed to be an effective one (I lack confrontation skills, and although I can write a great argumentative essay, I can’t argue outside a sheet of paper). More...