One of the signs of a healthy trademark is a certain level of distinctiveness. Distinctiveness is related to consumers’ love and recognition of a mark as an indicator of a product’s source, such that consumers trust the mark...more
Thank you for reading the July 2023 issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to Market® newsletter. This month, we continue our three-part series that closely examines ways to lose trademark rights with a discussion of genericide. We...more
If you’re celebrating Taco Tuesday, where are you going? If you answered anything other than Taco John’s, you’re guilty of aiding in trademark genericization. Taco John’s (now owned by Spicy Seasonings, LLC) obtained a...more
Have you ever been to an indoor cycling class? If so, you most likely have heard the term “spin class,” or referred to the act itself as “spinning.” Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc. would take offense, however, calling such uses...more
With the end of the year approaching and the holiday shopping season in full swing, now is an ideal time for brand owners to audit their trademark portfolios. ...more
When it comes to trademark registration, there is such a thing as being too popular. Marks such as Aspirin, Fiberglass, Zipper and Flip Phone became so ubiquitous that they were found to be generic—a commonly used name or...more
A federal judge in San Diego has cleared for trial a case that may strip San Diego Comic-Con from trademark protection. First, some background. Even a registered trademark such as Comic-Con can lose protection if it...more
On May 16, 2017, the Ninth Circuit rejected a petition for cancellation of the GOOGLE trademark based on a “genericide” theory that claimed Google should lose its trademark protection because the word “google” has become...more
Trademark attorneys constantly tell clients not to use their trademarks as a noun or a verb; trademarks are adjectives that describe who makes a specific product or offers a specific service. To allow your trademark to be...more