Jack & Coke finally becomes a "thing." In a can. For decades, Jack Daniels and Coca-Cola have been a staple drink of choice for in bars, at sporting events, at concerts, and even at backyard barbecues. The combination of two of the most iconic drink brands in history, the pairing was made all the more popular by the ease with which it could be ordered and then made. Not everyone knows what is in a Manhattan, a Martini or even a Screwdriver. And while drinks like margaritas ha

With the much-anticipated return of an in-person version of San Diego Comic-Con, it was disappointing to learn that Marvel Studios likely will not return to the storied halls of the San Diego Convention Center. Again. When Disney bought Marvel several years there were assurances all around that the acquisition wouldn’t affect Marvel’s commitment to its fans and that it would almost certainly maintain its presence at places like comic book conventions. Why wouldn’t it? The mos

In a conflict that has been marked by shockingly high casualty rates among both combatants and civilians, the war in Ukraine has added an unusual, albeit far less important, category to the list: trademarks. Responding to Western political pressure and mounting economic sanctions, Russia has decreed that Western intellectual property assets are essentially forfeited by companies that have stopped doing business in the country. The long-term impact on these and other Western b

After 77 years, ice cream kingpin Baskin-Robbins has decided it’s time for some changes. No, it’s not doing anything really oddball like adding hummus to the menu. (Yes, I’m looking at you Dunkin’.) Instead, the company has decided to tweak its logo, employee uniforms and packaging to update the brand. Along with the rebranding rollout, the company has plans to sell merchandise, including bikes and bucket hats, from a dedicated online store for the first time as well as unvei

Everyone knows that chicken nuggets just aren’t the same without a dipping sauce. And no one knows that better than McDonald’s. Recently, the fast-food chain announced Monday that it is bringing back its wildly popular Szechuan Sauce for a limited time starting March 31 and only “while supplies last.” Described as a savory and slightly sweet taste profile with hints of soy, garlic, ginger and mild vinegar, many fans of Chicken McNuggets swear by it while others swear about it

Yesterday, I participated in an informative online panel discussion entitled “Big Business and The Metaverse: What Comes Next?” presented by attorney Anthony Lupo of ArentFox Schiff and featuring ‘The Godmother of The Metaverse” Cathy Hackl. Anthony is managing partner at ArentFox and hosts a series of seminars once a quarter. Cathy is CEO of Futures Intelligence Group, frequently writes on the topic of companies, branding, and the future of the Internet, and works with well

Taco Bell is 60 years old today and it looks pretty good for its age. An incalculable number of Mexican restaurants and fast-food taco stands have come and gone since 1962 when founder Glen Bell opened his first Taco Bell in Downey, California. But Bell’s story began with a hot dog stand called Bell’s Drive-In that he opened in San Bernardino, California in 1946 when he was just 23. Then, four years later he opened a hamburger stand called Bell’s Hamburgers and Hot Dogs in a

Even if, like me, you're a few years older than a preteen, I'll wager that you have played with Lego building blocks or watched a Lego-themed movie in the last year or two. And, if you live in southern California and have had preteens in the family over the last twenty years, you've almost certainly visited that Mecca for Lego brock lovers, Legoland, in Carlsbad. Well, we were recently at Legoland and put together a few thoughts on the park and the brand that spawned it in ou

As reported earlier this week in The Los Angeles Times e-newsletter, the City of Placerville, located in the Gold Mining region of northern California, stirred up unexpected controversy when the city counsel voted to revise the city's logo by removing a noose hanging in a tree in the background behind a prospector panning for gold. "Anyone with even a passing knowledge of California history is familiar with the events of Jan. 24, 1848, when a man named James W. Marshall disc

Exercise bike manufacturer, Peloton, has filed petitions with the USPTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board to cancel Mad Dogg Athletics’ registrations for the SPIN and SPINNING trademarks. #Peloton #Exercise #Biking #Gym #Spin #Spinning #USPTO #TTAB #Trademarks #Branding #IntellectualProperty #IPlawyer #OCLawyer #DavidBaker

In a move that probably surprised Mrs. Potato Head, Hasbro recently announced that it was dropping the “Mr.” from the popular plastic toy Mr. Potato Head and would now market him as gender neutral. #Hasbro #MrPotatoHead #GenderFluid #Toys #Branding #Trademarks #Copyrights #IntellectualProeprty #IPLawyer #OCLawyer #DavidBaker

Quaker Oats is releasing a new name and logo for its "Aunt Jemima" products, finally retiring the racist stereotype that has adorned its pancake mixes and syrups for decades. The “new” brand name, Pearl Milling Company, is actually the name of the 19th century business that created the original ready-made pancake mix which became famous under the soon-to-be retired moniker. #AuntJemima #QuakerOats #branding #trademarks #intellectualproperty #intellectualpropertylaw #DavidBake

As if we need another reason to celebrate one of the most iconic films series of all time, it's officially Star Wars Day. May 4, celebrates George Lucas ' Star Wars. It is observed by fans of the media franchise. Observance of the commemorative day spread quickly through media and grassroots celebrations. The date was chosen for the pun on the catchphrase " May the Force be with you " as " May the Fourth be with you". According to Wikipedia, “Star Wars is an American epic sp

Comparing itself to the behemoth that is San Diego Comic, Con, the San Diego Comic Fest bills itself as the friendly comic convention with a casual atmosphere and an intimate scale that allows fans to mingle directly with professionals and exhibitors. It’s the place where you can indulge your love of comics, science fiction, and films, and meet an outstanding array of professional creators without high-priced tickets, crowding, or long lines. This year’s event, the 7th Fest,

Did you have a favorite? The Snickers Hole. Cheetos Fingers. The Car That Parked Itself. Baby Mr. Peanut. Super Bowl Monday Off. The Tide Stain Later. The Bud Light Knight. President Trump. Whether you watched The Big Game as a fan of the Chiefs or the 49ers or as a fan of the NFL (#GoRams and #GoBolts) or as a JLo and Shakira devotee, you almost certainly saw your fair share of commercials. The branding was rampant and it was expensive, but was any of it good enough to be

Trademarks - Understand the basics