Coca-Cola settled on its famous contour bottle design almost 100 years ago, in 1916, after several years of trials with other far less distinctive shapes (at least under today’s standards)...more
5/20/2013
- Coca Cola Trademarks
The colonoscopy has been the butt of jokes among medical procedures for a long time, but it is actually no laughing matter, as the Minnesota Department of Health’s Sage Scopes graphic billboard campaign reveals...more
5/17/2013
- Advertising
This past week I’ve been pondering a question of great importance: When might a straitjacket double as a life vest? The answer actually arrived last Monday during INTA’s “The Ethics of Trademark Bullying” panel discussion at...more
5/13/2013
- Trademark Bullying Trademarks
So-called “fluid” trademarks are gaining a recent downpour of attention – on Monday INTA wrote about them in the Daily News distributed in Dallas at INTA’s 135th Annual Meeting, it also held a panel discussion on the topic...more
5/8/2013
- Fluid Trademarks Trademarks
It’s that time of year again. The fishing opener in Minnesota is upon us this coming Saturday, so Rapala is sporting its new billboard advertisement....more
5/7/2013
- Advertising Design Patent Trademarks
OfficeMax has been sporting its friendly and colorful rubber band ball brand signal on billboard advertising and delivery trucks for some time, but yesterday is the first time I’ve noticed prominent static use of the bouncy...more
5/2/2013
- Marketing Trademarks
It’s been a little more than a week, and I still have the FUSE conference on my mind. One of the more entertaining speakers at FUSE was a futurist by the name of Magnus Lindkvist who talked about “The Attack of the...more
4/26/2013
- Business Development Marketing Photographs
With all the golf coverage of the Masters Tournament and the coveted Green Jacket, this past weekend, it seemed particularly appropriate to report on a recent trademark case involving the miniature variety of golf: Putt-Putt,...more
4/15/2013
- Brand Generic Golf Trademarks
The importance of “storytelling” seems to be the buzzword lately when it comes to branding communications and decisions. For example, last August Branding Strategy Insider wrote that “Brands Must Master the Art of...more
4/8/2013
- Advertising Brand Marketing PepsiCo
A recent road trip in Texas flagged this roadside sign, depicting a likely famous non-verbal logo, standing all alone...more
3/28/2013
- Logos Marketing Starbucks
When we mention confusion on DuetsBlog, we’re typically referring to the well-known likelihood of confusion test of trademark infringement. But today, we’re focused on the apparent confusion many have about the important...more
3/25/2013
- Copyright Infringement Photographs
Brand New Blog recently reported on the unfortunate, but unsurprising piercing of Lance Armstrong’s name from the logo and visual identity of the Livestrong Foundation...more
3/19/2013
- Brand Lance Armstrong Livestrong Marketing
It has been almost six months since oral argument before the TTAB over the question of whether the word “footlong” is a trademark or a generic name for a type of sandwich. What type of sandwich you ask? One about twice as...more
3/11/2013
- Brand Subway Trademarks
Passing by a roadside billboard recently (below is a miniature version I found in the Minneapolis skyway system), my first thought was, wow, McDonald’s is getting into the juicy lucy business...more
3/4/2013
- Advertising McDonalds State Farm Trade Dress
Remember how important it is to stay on the right side of the suggestive/descriptive line when it comes to making proper use of a brand name?...more
2/25/2013
- Brand Trademarks USPTO
If you were a Band-Aid brand adhesive bandage, and you were cut, would you protect yourself?
Brent, sorry I couldn’t help myself, I’m still enjoying your Louis Vuitton waffle-maker post.
With that intro, let’s turn...more
2/18/2013
- Band-Aid Brand Genericide Trademarks
So, another Super Bowl is now in the books, and another collection of Super Bowl ads has aired. Next time there is a 35-minute delay resulting from a power outage, my vote is to watch more ads instead of watch and listen to...more
2/4/2013
- Super Bowl Television Commercials
Looks like the V Bar at The Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, is having some sort of function on “Super Sunday” – February 3rd (that date sounds familiar)...more
2/1/2013
- Advertising Licenses Logos NFL Super Bowl
As many have written about before me, the NFL is quite protective of its rights in the SUPER BOWL trademark, so much so that some think it has earned the pejorative ”trademark bully” label, so I spilled a little digital ink...more
1/28/2013
- NFL Super Bowl Trademark Bullying Trademarks
Irony is something I enjoy capturing, as you already know, especially when it comes to branding. Take this recent image from my favorite hot dog joint in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Yesterdog...more
1/21/2013
- Brand Coca Cola PepsiCo
Earlier this month, we asked whether [yo]gurt(lab) has an inherently distinctive interior restaurant environment?
This week, we’re focused on product packaging, and ask whether Spine Vodka has enough meat on the bones...more
1/14/2013
- Inherently Distinctive Product Packaging Trademarks
