Lawsuits are spiking on the issue of whether non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) qualify as “real” goods for the purpose of trademark protection – May 16, 2022

Non-fungible tokens ("NFTs") - what are they, anyhow? Technically, they are a digital asset.  Again, what does that mean? On Monday, May 16, 2022, SoCal IP Law Group LLP partner Marina L. Lang will lead a discussion on defining the nature of these novel digital assets and discuss the growing litigation over whether these assets [...]

1 hour Ethics MCLE – Practicing Legal Civility in Virtual Communications, especially when the “Connection is Poor”

Join us in watching this webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUWbCZj4WHk After, we will discuss our various thoughts and perspectives on watching ourselves practice law, before our very eyes and behaving civilly when the "connection is poor." We will discuss this webinar on November 15, 2021 via Teams and in-person for those wishing to attend. All are welcome to [...]

By |2021-11-14T21:09:51-08:00November 14th, 2021|Litigation, Trademark, Likelihood of Confusion|0 Comments

Lanham Act Puffery and Foreign Jurisdictional Issues

Which Pizza has better ingredients and who is allowed to say so? Our two cases are Lanham Act court of appeals cases. The first, Pizza Hut, Inc. v. Papa John’s Int’l., 227 F.3d 489 (5th Cir 2000) (here), from the Fifth Circuit in 2000, relates to Pizza Hut’s claim the Papa John’s advertising using the phrase [...]

By |2021-10-25T11:13:59-07:00October 22nd, 2021|Litigation, Trademark, Likelihood of Confusion|0 Comments

USPTO Crackdown on Trademark Scammers Amazon Crackdown on Counterfeiters

Please join us 9/27/2021 at 1:00pm for a discussion: United States Patent and Trademark Office Crackdown on Scammers. For years, owners of United States Trademark Registrations have been plagued by scam letters requesting payments to renews trademark registrations. Though trademark registrations must be renewed, these letters did not come from the actual USPTO but a [...]

Prosecuting Chinese Counterfeiters: New Enforcement Strategies Learned from Fendi v. Yilang at Shanghai Higher People’s Court

The FENDI Decision is out! After 5 long years, the Shanghai High Court issued its final judgement in the case of Fendi v. Yi Lang. Defendant Yi Lang (no relative of this week's presenter, SoCal IP Partner Marina Lang) can no longer operate his "Fendi" stores in China, stocked with parallel goods.  We will discuss [...]

New Trademark and Copyright Decisions – Monday, March 8, 2021

New Trademark and Copyright Decisions: TTAB Rejects Express Abandonment of Application “Without Prejudice” After Adverse Final Decision Ninth Circuit Decision Takes Surprising Turn in Considering Copyright Damages Against Defendants with Joint and Several Liability In re Information Builders, Inc., Serial No. 87,753,964 (Feb. 25, 2021) (TTAB) [precedential], available here. When can an application be abandoned [...]

By |2021-03-07T12:17:57-08:00March 6th, 2021|TTAB, Likelihood of Confusion, Deceptive, Trademark|0 Comments

Beginnings of a Federal Court Litigation – Monday, March 1, 2021

All are invited to attend our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, March 1, 2021 a 1:00 pm Pacific.  Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting will be conducted online via video conference. This activity is approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit.  If you will be joining us, please RSVP to Elisha Manzur [...]

By |2021-02-27T13:48:23-08:00February 27th, 2021|Trademark, TTAB, Likelihood of Confusion, Deceptive|0 Comments

Trademark Deceptiveness and Confusion – SoCal IP Institute – Monday, February 22, 2021

Recent Trademark Rulings on Trademark Deceptiveness and Confusion All are invited to attend our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, February 22, 2021 a 1:00 pm Pacific.  Due to the Covid-19 situation the meeting will be conducted online via video conference. This activity is approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit.  If you will [...]

By |2021-02-20T14:50:12-08:00February 20th, 2021|Trademark, TTAB, Likelihood of Confusion, Deceptive|0 Comments

January 8, 2018 Trademark Office’s Bar on Immoral or Scandalous Marks is Unconstitutional Under the First Amendment ; Is DRIVEWISE confusingly similar with auto technology and insurance?

For our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, January 8, 2018, we will discuss the following cases: In Re Brunetti, (CAFC, December 15, 2017) (available here). Applicant tried to register the mark FUCT for clothing. The Examining attorney refused registration and the TTAB affirmed the refusal based on § 2(a) of the Lanham Act [...]

By |2018-01-08T09:18:01-08:00January 4th, 2018|Trademark, TTAB, Likelihood of Confusion|0 Comments

SoCal IP Institute :: July 31, 2017 :: Clothing Trademarks ; Functional Designs

For our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, July 31, 2017, we will discuss the following cases: In re Critelli, (TTAB. July 24, 2017) (available here). The USPTO refused to register the mark LAVA for outdoor survival clothing. LAVA ACCESSORIES had already been registered for "scarfs; travel clothing contained in a package comprising reversible jackets, pants, skirts, [...]

By |2017-07-26T09:31:05-07:00July 26th, 2017|Trademark, TTAB, Invalidity, Likelihood of Confusion|0 Comments
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