How To Select a Strong Trademark
A “trademark” is any word, phrase, logo or design that identifies the source of goods or services. Trademarks are used to distinguish one’s products and services from those of another. The strength of a trademark depends on...more
Welcome to the March 2024 issue of Sterne Kessler’s MarkIt to Market® newsletter. This month, we discuss the IPR Center’s efforts to stop global IP theft and address counterfeiting on both home and foreign turf; a recent TTAB...more
There once was a company named Zotz, Which created toys for tots, Let’s use “Robotoy,” Zotz declares, File at once, Lawyer Zares, Months later, Zotz is dejected, Too descriptive, trademark rejected. First published in...more
Think about your favorite pizza restaurant. What sets it apart from the frozen pizza you could pick up from your local grocery store? Is it the cheese-stuffed crust? The quality of the pepperoni?...more
It is a fundamental principle of trademark law that no business should be able to prevent others from using apt language to accurately describe their goods and services. For this reason, clearly descriptive trademarks are...more
In an industry that runs on innovation and differentiation, a cannabis brand’s identity is among its most valuable—and most prone to copying—assets. It’s a common myth that cannabis industry brands cannot get trademark...more
So, you’ve taken the leap. You’re starting a business. Congrats! You’re excited; you’re ambitious; the world is your oyster. Perhaps you’re building an app, or maybe a new clothing line? Or maybe you’ve created an animal...more
Not all trademarks are equal in strength and the scope of exclusive protection they are afforded. The strength of a mark is determined based on the mark’s ability to be distinctive of the of goods and services offered under...more
Back to Basics: A Primer on Intellectual Property Rights in Video Games - It is often said that the most important asset to any video game company is its "IP," or intellectual property. The reason for this is not...more
Trademark clearance and registration—sounds like an additional legal expense, right? Unfortunately, this potential cost is the reason many individuals and businesses forgo the trademark clearance and registration process...more