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Summary Judgment Trademarks Trade Dress

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Divided 9th Circuit Says District Court Has Power to Adjudicate TM Applications

In BBK Tobacco & Foods LLP v. Cent. Coast Agric., Inc., 97 F.4th 668 (9th Cir. 2024), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that federal district courts have power to adjudicate trademark applications pursuant to the Lanham...more

McDermott Will & Emery

On the Road Again: Alternative Designs May Impact Trade Dress Functionality Analysis

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The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed and remanded a summary judgment ruling, finding that there were genuine disputes of material fact regarding whether the plaintiff’s alleged trade dress was functional and...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Functionality Dooms Alleged Trade Dress Protection

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The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment of noninfringement in a trade dress suit, finding that the trade dress was functional and the attorneys’ fee award—as diminished by the district...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Half-Baked Case: No Misappropriation or False Advertising Given Over-Broad Allegations

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The US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of a defendant baker on a trade dress infringement claim and reversed the district court’s denial of the defendant...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Sticky Situation? Circumstantial Evidence Can Support Intent to Confuse in Trade Dress Claims

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The US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed a district court’s grant of summary judgment for the defendant on trade dress infringement and trade dress dilution claims, finding that evidence relating to the...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Is a Color Mark Functional? First, Consider the Alternatives

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a grant of summary judgment, finding a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the green color of the plaintiff’s earplugs was functional. Moldex-Metric, Inc. v....more

McDermott Will & Emery

Knurling – Design Element or Technological Advancement?

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The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit concluded that a knurling pattern on a rifle scope can be an ornamental design and vacated the district court’s grant of a summary judgment. Leapers, Inc. v. SMTS, LLC, et al.,...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Much Ado About Shoe Designs – Favorable Rulings for Adidas on Summary Judgment in Skechers Trademark Dispute

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

On August 3, 2017, the shoe manufacturer Adidas scored important legal victories in its long-running trademark dispute with the shoemaker Skechers. Adidas America, Inc. et al. v. Skechers USA, Inc. (D. Or. 2017) involved...more

McDermott Will & Emery

Lanham Act Cannot Be Used to Create “Species of Mutant Copyright Law”

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The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a district court decision granting summary judgment to a defendant that its use of digital files did not infringe plaintiff’s trademark or trade dress for its CD-Gs...more

Morrison & Foerster LLP

Second Circuit Upholds Parody Defense, Tosses Louis Vuitton’s Trademark Suit

In late December, the Second Circuit issued a ruling in Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A., v. My Other Bag, Inc., affirming the district court’s grant of summary judgment for claims of trademark infringement and dilution of a...more

Akerman LLP - Marks, Works & Secrets

Trade Dress Claim Based on Shoe’s Rectangular Metal Toe Plate Booted by SDNY

The Southern District of New York recently booted shoe manufacturer LVL XIII Brands, Inc.’s trade dress infringement suit against Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. in LVL XIII Brands, Inc. v. Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A.. At issue...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Single Color Mark — Functionality Does Not Necessarily Preclude Protectability

The Ninth Circuit’s recent decision in Moldex-Metric, Inc. v. McKeon Products, Inc. clarifies that even when a single color trade dress has a function, and even when the color is marketed as such, this fact alone does not...more

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