Celebrities are filing trademarks to combat AI clones. Will they hold up in court?
Matthew McConaughey and Taylor Swift are among those who are using trademark registration as possible protection again misuse involving artificial intelligence.
Trademark
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NCAA uses full-court press to protect branded phrases like ‘March Madness’
“Clean zones” have been created around tournament venues, where police are prepared to toss out vendors without a permit and others selling unlicensed gear bearing NCAA branding.
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Lawsuit seeks to thwart James Dean trademark violations
Dozens of foreign companies are selling counterfeit James Dean products online in the United States, according to a federal lawsuit.
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Innovation needed to bridge patent diversity gap, attorneys say
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate in March seeks to quantify the lack of diversity among patent holders. The Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act of 2021 — or IDEA Act — would require the USPTO to collect inventors’ demographic information, including race and gender.
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Articles
Lawsuit says Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ pose comes too close to the work of a real one
Columnist Maren Wade says in the trademark infringement lawsuit filed in federal court that the glittery branding of Swift’s 2025 album comes too close to the aesthetic of her own “Confessions of a Showgirl.”
Federal judge denies NCAA’s restraining order request to make DraftKings stop using ‘March Madness’
The complaint for trademark infringement was filed in the Southern District of Indiana last week.
NCAA asks court to stop DraftKings from using trademarked terms such as ‘March Madness’
The NCAA said in the complaint its trademarks are used to identify, brand, advertise and distinguish the tournaments across broadcast media, digital platforms, merchandise, sponsorships and licensed commercial activities.
Lululemon’s lawsuit against Costco highlights rise of fashion ‘dupes’
Across the retail industry, it’s far from a new phenomenon. But social media is pushing the culture of online dupe shopping to new heights as influencers direct their followers to where they can buy the knockoffs.
FullBeauty Brands faces patent litigation over swimsuit styles
FullBeauty Brands Inc., an online apparel retailer with a significant Indianapolis presence, is facing a lawsuit alleging that several of its swimsuits too closely resemble a competitor’s products.
RV company awarded $2 million in trademark infringement case against Elkhart County rival
A jury in U.S. District Court in South Bend earlier this month awarded recreational vehicle manufacturer Forest River Inc. a $2 million judgment in its trademark infringement case against Elkhart County rival inTech Trailers Inc.
Supreme Court seems likely to rule against trademark in ‘Trump too small’ case
The U.S. Supreme Court signaled Wednesday that it would rule against a man who wants to trademark the suggestive phrase “Trump too small.”
Nguyen: ‘Requisite national fame’: A look at trademark dilution
Trademark dilution law appears to be losing its significance. Another perspective, however, proposes the major drop in trademark dilution suits confirms the trademark dilution statute serves its purpose perfectly.
IU Health sues Methodist Sports Medicine, claiming trademark infringement
IU Health has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, claiming trademark infringement and unfair competition. It is asking a judge to order Methodist Sports Medicine to change its name.
Hartz: New procedures on the way from recent (and future?) IP legislation
Amid all the news around the new year, you might have missed that the variety of changes to federal intellectual property laws, the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA) and the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act).
Valparaiso looking for new team name after dropping Crusaders
Valparaiso University announced Thursday that is dropping the team name Crusaders, the school mascot and all logos associated with the term that it says has been embraced by hate groups.
Splenda maker sues Speedway chain over knockoff sweetener
The Carmel-based maker of Splenda sweetener is suing the convenience store chain Speedway LLC for trademark infringement, alleging the retailer offers its customers a knockoff sweetener in yellow packets that look too much like Splenda’s packaging.
Supreme Court sides with Lucky brand in trademark dispute
The Supreme Court is siding with fashion brand Lucky in a dispute with a Miami-based apparel manufacturer that owns the “Get Lucky” trademark.
Listen in on history: SCOTUS streams audio of live arguments for first time
It’s a morning of firsts for the United States Supreme Court: the first time audio of the court’s arguments will be heard live by the world and the first arguments by telephone.
3M files suit over alleged scam that targeted Indiana for billions of dollars
In its complaint, filed Thursday in the Indianapolis division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 3M accuses Reno, Nevada-based Zenger LLC and its agent, Zachary Puznak, of contacting high-ranking Indiana officials and offering to sell them up to 100 million N95 respirators on behalf of 3M.
SCOTUS rules for Connecticut company in Fossil trademark case
The Supreme Court of the United States is making it easier to get certain monetary awards in trademark infringement lawsuits. Justices sided unanimously Thursday with a Connecticut company, Romag, in its lawsuit against fashion accessory company Fossil.
Brown: Patent priorities, trademark cautions for the eco-focused
Earth Day is upon us, and the World Intellectual Property Organization has announced a theme of “Innovate for a Green Future” for World Intellectual Property Day on April 26. Christopher Brown offers two bits of eco-minded intellectual property law.
Lindman: Trademarks in the Supreme Court: 2019-2020
One could assume that significant issues in federal trademark law were decided long ago; yet, the Supreme Court issued two trademark decisions in 2019 that fundamentally impact trademark protection and has granted certiorari in three trademark cases for the 2019-2020 term.
Willful wrong? SCOTUS to resolve circuit split on profits
Among the circuit courts of appeal, there is an even split between the 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 10th and Washington, D.C., circuits and the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 11th over whether the Lanham Act requires “willful” infringement before a plaintiff can recover profits. The United States Supreme Court is set to bring clarity to the circuit split when it hears arguments in Romag Fasteners Inc. v. Fossil Inc., 18-1233, next month.