So You Want To Register Your Trademark: What Do You Need Before You Begin
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 16, 2020 in Trademark
“I want to trademark my logo, what do I need to do?” This is a common question we hear from potential clients. My first inclination is to let the potential client know that the logo, if it is being used in commerce to identify the source of a company’s goods and services, is already considered a trademark. We need to register the trademark with either the State and/or the United States Patent and Trademark Office […]
Continue ReadingCourt Finds Goats on a Roof Are Not Offended by Trade Dress Registration Depicting…Well, Goats on a Roof
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 9, 2020 in Intellectual Property
When a New York attorney found a long-standing Sister Bay, WI, restaurant’s trade dress demeaning to goats, he filed a petition to cancel the trade dress registration with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Specifically, he stated that the trade dress registration denigrated the value of the “dignity and worth of animals.” The TTAB ruled that Mr. Bank did not have standing to bring the Petition. So Mr. Bank appealed to The Court of […]
Continue Reading5 New Year Tips for Business Owners
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 2, 2020 in Basics of Intellectual Property
Written by Guest Author, Marks Gray Associate Logan McEwen Happy New Year! Start off the new decade the right way for your business with the following tips to protect your growth and curb problems early. Audit Your Trademark Registrations and Business Accounts The lack of simple oversight often trips up businesses whenever personnel or IT providers change. Make sure problems aren’t lying in wait for you. From federal trademark registrations to state business filings, important notices […]
Continue ReadingCopyright protection assigns specific rights to its author as long as the work meets various criteria. The primary purpose of copyright protection is to encourage idea sharing and development. Copyright provides a framework for how relationships should work for everyone involved: copyright holders, content providers, and consumers of the content. With guidelines in place to benefit all parties, people have more incentives to share their creative works. When it comes to sharing work globally, the […]
Continue ReadingThe Trouble with Tom Brady’s Battle to Trademark ‘Tom Terrific’
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Dec 5, 2019 in Intellectual Property
Tom Brady’s attorneys recently filed a trademark application for the nickname ‘Tom Terrific,’ and the news quickly spurred backlash from fans of the New York Mets. You see, legendary Mets pitcher Tom Seaver was dubbed ‘Tom Terrific’ by the media long before Brady was ever even a Patriot. Moreover, it seems the athlete’s attempt to get ahead of the bad press has only led to more scrutiny – and a likely denial – of his […]
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