Tag Archives: trademarks

Taco Bell Wins Trademark Battle Over “Taco Tuesday”

Reuters reports: Yum Brands’ Taco Bell prevailed on Tuesday in its self-described bid to “liberate” the phrase “Taco Tuesday,” as competing fast-food chain Taco John’s told the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) it would abandon its federal “Taco Tuesday” trademark. Taco Bell had asked the USPTO in May to cancel the trademark, calling it a common phrase that Taco …

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Russia Okays Patent Theft From “Unfriendly” Nations

The Washington Post reports: Russia has effectively legalized patent theft from anyone affiliated with countries “unfriendly” to it, declaring that unauthorized use will not be compensated. The decree, issued this week, illustrates the economic war waged around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as the West levies sanctions and pulls away from Russia’s huge oil and gas industry. Russian officials have also …

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H&R Block Sues Over Square’s New Name “Block”

CNBC reports: H&R Block filed a trademark infringement lawsuit over Square’s new name, “Block” on Thursday. The tax preparation service seeks to keep Block from using the new name, saying in a press release that the fintech company “would improperly capitalize on the goodwill and consumer trust cultivated by Block since 1955.” Block CEO Jack Dorsey [photo] said earlier this …

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Ringo Starr Settles “Ring O” Cock Ring Trademark Suit

The BBC reports: Sir Ringo Starr has dropped his legal case against the makers of a sex toy called a Ring O. The Beatles drummer challenged the Ring O trademark, saying it’s too similar to his name and might cause confusion. Sir Ringo, 80, had argued that his reputation would be damaged if the Ring O name was registered as …

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SCOTUS: Generic Dot-Com Names Deserve Trademarks

Courthouse News reports: The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 Tuesday that companies with “.com” in their names are eligible for federal trademark protection, even if their monikers are otherwise generic. “The appellate court also rejected the PTO’s contention that, as a rule, combining a generic term like ‘booking’ with ‘.com’ yields a generic composite,” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the …

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Ohio State Seeks Trademark On The Word “The”

The Columbus Dispatch reports: Ohio State University wants to trademark the word “The” when used in conjunction with the university’s name on items marketed for sale. The university submitted a trademark application Aug. 8 to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington. The request is for a standard character trademark for the title “The Ohio State University.” Some …

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Kid Rock Sued By Circus In Trademark Beef

Billboard Magazine reports: Kid Rock is in legal hot water for using the phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth” without permission from its trademark owners. The phrase belongs to Feld Entertainment, longtime owners of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which took the touring extravaganza off the road earlier this year, but retained all intellectual property for the …

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San Diego Group Wins “Comic Con” Trademark Battle

Forbes reports: In a ruling with wide-ranging implications for the multi-billion dollar fan events industry, a jury in San Diego today decided in favor of Comic-Con International (CCI), the nonprofit that has run the iconic San Diego Comic-Con for nearly 50 years, in its long-running battle with Dan Farr Productions and Bryan Brandenburg, organizers of Salt Lake City Comic Con, …

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Trump’s First Wife Files TV And Book Trademarks

Bloomberg reports: As Ivana Trump, the fashion model turned businesswoman and ex-wife of U.S. President Donald Trump, prepares for the October release of a new book about raising her children, she’s seeking approval from trademark officials to protect her name in various entertainment and business services. Trump filed a request with the U.S. trademark office in late June to safeguard …

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Ivanka Ordered To Testify In Shoe Trademark Suit

The Associated Press reports: Ivanka Trump must testify in a dispute with an Italian shoemaker over one of her company’s shoe designs, a judge said Friday. U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest rejected a request by the senior White House aide’s lawyers that she be blocked from submitting to a deposition in the trademark infringement lawsuit brought by Aquazzura Italia SRL …

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Dykes On Bikes Celebrates Supreme Court’s Ruling That Banning “Disparaging” Trademarks Is Unconstitutional

Via press release: San Francisco “Dykes on Bikes” is celebrating Monday’s unanimous 8-0 United States Supreme Court Trademark decision, in which the Court found it unconstitutional to prohibit registration of a trademark by the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) based on what some may consider “disparaging language.” The organization was able to trademark its name after a 4-year battle all …

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Phyllis Schlafly Loses Trademark Battle With Nephew

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports: Longtime conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly has lost her fight to block the maker of Schlafly beer from trademarking the brand’s name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, in a decision last week, sided with the St. Louis Brewery, which applied for the Schlafly trademark in 2012 as its sales began to take off outside of …

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Monster Energy Drink Vs Fred Schneider

From the New York Post: Monster Energy is in its own “Private Idaho.” Fred Schneider, lead singer of The B-52’s, and a small Florida coffee company find themselves between a rock lobster and a hard place after the makers of the sugary energy drink accused them of infringing their “Monster” trademark. Monster believes its brand is as good as legal …

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Disney Sues DJ Deadmau5

Disney has filed a trademark claim against popular DJ and EDM artist Deadmau5, alleging that his famed headpiece logo is too Mickey Mouse. According to Deadmau5’s lawyer, Dina LaPolt, the DJ’s logo is already a registered trademark in 30 countries, including the UK, Ireland and Germany. But not in America: Deadmau5 applied to the US patent and trademark office in …

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Filmmaker Tyler Perry Wins Trademark Battle Over “What Would Jesus Do?”

Filmmaker Tyler Perry has won the battle over the trademark of the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?” Via the Hollywood Reporter: The other contestant in this bout was Kimberly Kearney, who was once known as “Poprah” on the VH1 series, I Want to Work for Diddy. In May 2008, Perry registered the mark in the category of entertainment services, mentioning …

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Jesus Vs Jesus

Six years ago an Italian clothing company miraculously received a US trademark to make clothing bearing the word “Jesus.” And ever since then the lawsuits have been flying. Via the Wall Street Journal: The owner of the trademark, Jesus Jeans, has clamped down on Jesus-themed apparel, pitting its litigators against more than a dozen other startup clothing lines it claims …

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Tebowing Has Been Trademarked

Tim Tebow has received a federal trademark for “tebowing,” the act of dropping to one knee for a brief prayer. Even the wingnut Moonie Times is taking a dim view: Apparently the trademark is not solely on the term to Tebow, but on the pose as well. You don’t have to call it “Tebowing” to be subject to Tim’s approval. …

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Sarah Palin Files Name Trademark

Sarah Palin has filed applications to trademark her name and the name of the her daughter, Bristol. Maybe they’re coming out with their own line of moose shotguns? It’s hard for an individual to trademark their name, but it’s not without precedent. Pop singer-songwriter Billy Joel has done it, for example. If Palin’s applications are granted, many politicians seeking to …

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Facebook To Trademark “Face”

Facebook has received notice that they are about to own the trademark on the word “face” whenever it is used in a social media context. There goes your idea for GayFace.com. The trademark covers the word face only in the context of “telecommunication services, namely, providing online chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards for transmission of messages among computer users …

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NEW YORK CITY: Marine Corps Wrestles Name Back From Gay Holiday Toy Drive

For 25 years one of the glitziest events on NYC’s homo holiday calendar has been the Toys For Tots party at Chelsea Piers, where the gay glitterati gather to booze, schmooze, and deliver mountains of new toys for the city’s needy kids. As a Marine brat who went to USMC Toys For Tots events back in the 60’s, I’ve always …

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