Band names are big merchandising business, including t-shirts, hats, posters and other paraphernalia. When checking the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) website for other band trademarks, I was not surprised that the lead singer and savvy businessperson Jon Bon Jovi (a.k.a. John Bongiovi) owns the Bon Jovi® trademark himself. Eighties band REO Speedwagon set
Crowded Trademark Parties & Coexisting Store Names
If you don’t mind the wait, a crowded parking lot is often a good strategy when hunting for an excellent restaurant while you’re in unfamiliar territory. Similarly, a large crowd lining up outside a retail store is typically a good sign that the business is doing something right, or perhaps, they just happen to have something rare that everyone wants.
Blips, Bleeps, Churns and Chugs
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
I have to give a shout out to my brother, Kevin, for finding and sending to me this wonderful bit of popular culture:
Watching this, all I could think about was how many bits of the Super Mario Bros. Theme instantly evoke memories of playing this game as a kid. From the
Seizing an Opportunity for Trademark Relief
–Sharon Armstrong, Attorney
In the vast majority of trademark infringement suits reported in the press, plaintiffs – whether they are trademark owners suing third parties for the unauthorized use of a mark or are third party users asking for a judge to declare that their use of a mark is lawful – generally seek injunctive
IP Grammar . . . and Those Who Cringe About It
Last September, in my blog post entitled "What Does Trademarked Mean to You?," I wrote:
More than a few trademark types cringe when their clients or others say things like "let’s trademark it," "they didn’t trademark their logo," or "we don’t want to trademark this name," and, when they ask questions like "is
Tradition Returns With Minnie and Paul
— Karen Brennan, Attorney
I finally made it to a Minnesota Twins game to personally witness the mania surrounding Target Field. While I am not a huge baseball fan, I have to admit it was pretty great. One thing that grabbed my attention was the large, vintage-looking Twins sign in center field:
The “Shaking
“Sit Down Michigan State,” A Collegiate Trade Dress Tale
That’s what I called out to this guy at the College World Series in Omaha last week, after "down in front," received no reaction. That’s right, "Sit Down Michigan State," obtained the desired result, but not without a somewhat funny look back.
When he turned around I realized the funny look wasn’t simply a reaction to interrupting his
Clothing Giant Loses Trademark Battle
As my name came from the famous “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” where Audrey Hepburn made the little black dress famous, it is no surprise that I am a BCBG Max Azria fan. The famous designer was recently dealt a blow by a Pennsylvania court.
BCBG, taken from the French phrase “Bon Chic, Bon Genre” (slang
Managing The Legal Risk of “Verbing Up” Brands and Trademarks
Trademark lawyers need to face the facts. Despite decades of ardent counseling to the contrary, business executives and marketers are not only testing the waters with the treatment of their most valuable brands as verbs, in some cases, they are diving in head first, committing substantial resources and effort toward the clearly stated goal of "verbing up" and having their brands used as
What Has Happened To Car Names?
by Mark Prus Marketing Consultant at NameFlashSM
As a professional name developer, I think about names all the time. One of my favorite times to think is when driving. No, I am not “texting while driving.” But when I pull up behind a car at a red light, I notice the name on the