‘Generic’ trademark battle set for SCOTUS
Booking.com is facing a not-so-easy legal battle in a lengthy effort to make its name a protectable trademark.
Trademarks
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High court strikes down ‘scandalous’ part of trademark law
The Untied States Supreme Court has struck down a section of federal law that prevented officials from registering trademarks seen as scandalous or immoral, handing a victory Monday to California fashion brand FUCT.
7th Circuit won’t increase damages award in music trademark suit
A music company has failed to convince the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to increase its award of damages by millions in a trademark suit against Guitar Center Stores, Inc.
In ‘FUCT’ fashion brand case, justices avoid saying word
The U.S. Supreme Court discussed a trademark case Monday involving Los Angeles-based fashion brand “FUCT.” But the justices did some verbal gymnastics to get through about an hour of arguments without saying the brand’s name.
Roach & Hiler: Top 10 technology licensing pitfalls
While license agreements are often complex, we have seen many common pitfalls in licenses for patents and know-how (trademark and copyright licenses present similar issues, but are beyond the scope of this article). A “top 10” is a somewhat arbitrary list, but here goes:
Say what?: Trademark case tests ‘scandalous,’ ‘immoral’ standards
A First Amendment case just heard by the United States Supreme Court pits an anti-establishment brand — the four-letter acronym for Friends U Can't Trust — against federal prohibitions on trademarks that are “scandalous and immoral.”
IMA pro views art through a legal lens
Anne Young, manager of rights and reproductions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, has an eye for photography as well as a focus on intellectual property considerations for collection curators. You might say she helped write the book on the subject.
University IP offices protect key innovations
At Indiana University, Purdue University, Notre Dame and elsewhere, specialized university technology and commercialization offices are taking an expanding role in protecting the intellectual property of academic research, innovations and inventions.
Splenda maker settles trademark lawsuit against IHOP, Applebee’s franchisor
The Carmel-based maker of Splenda sweetener has settled a legal dispute with the franchisor of International House of Pancakes and Applebee’s, which it sued last year for trademark infringement.
KY Distiller to Bob Dylan whiskey co.: Hands off the trademark
With more than 1.4 million barrels of aging bourbon whiskey in reserve, Heaven Hill Distilleries may not cry over a spilled shot glass or two, but it will fight to defend its trademark. The Kentucky distiller has filed an infringement lawsuit against a Chicago-based company that makes a collection of American whiskeys co-created by musical legend Bob Dylan.
Pierogi festivals settle over trademark dispute
A northwestern Indiana city that hosts an annual festival built around a popular Polish delicacy has reached a settlement in its trademark dispute with a rival festival in Pennsylvania. Since 2014 the Edwardsville Hometown Committee has run the Pennsylvania festival dedicated to the potato-filled dumplings, abundant in a region whose coal mines drew Polish immigrants more than a century ago, while Whiting, Indiana, has hosted Pierogi Fest since 1995.
Chinese tariffs shed light on theft of American IP
The brewing trade war between the United States and China has shone a renewed spotlight on a longstanding source of contention between the two economies: intellectual property theft.
IP clinics at IU Maurer, Notre Dame help inventors protect ideas, launch dreams
With the help of the intellectual property law clinics at Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Notre Dame Law Schools, inventors are securing patents and protections that could give their ideas the commercial boost the need to compete in the marketplace.
Ohio State: Dismiss ex-player’s lawsuit over image use
Ohio State wants a federal judge to dismiss a class-action lawsuit by one of its most famous football stars who alleges athletes' images were used without their permission and without compensation.
Indy-based Wine & Canvas loses trademark infringement appeal
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the grant of summary judgment to a California wine and canvas company on a series of trademark infringement claims, finding the original Indiana parent company to the California business failed to prove any of its claims on appeal.
Justice Department gives up Washington Redskins name fight
The Justice Department is giving up the legal fight over the name of the Washington Redskins.
Public outcry may be able to keep offensive trademarks at bay
While Monday’s decision from the Supreme Court of the United States that barred the federal government from asserting which names are offensive has been viewed as a victory for the Washington Redskins, a high school in northern Indiana may provide an example of what the eight justices were trying to accomplish.
Justices say law on offensive trademarks is unconstitutional
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down part of a law that bans offensive trademarks, ruling in favor of an Asian-American rock band called the Slants and giving a major boost to the Washington Redskins in their separate legal fight over the team name.
Judge won’t bifurcate ‘Texas’ steakhouses’ trademark trial
A federal judge refused to order separate trials on liability and damages for a Merrillville-based steakhouse chain accused of copying the trade dress and trademarks of a larger Texas-themed competitor.
Michigan company’s highway sign trademark ruled not harmful
A federal judge has rejected an argument from state officials that a northern Michigan company's trademark of the highway sign M-22 violates federal law.