As reported by Bleeding Cool and several other media outlets, the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., for the uninitiated) has apparently come to its senses and decided to drop its application for registration of GUNTHER STARK as a federal trademark. The WWE had filed a registration for Austrian-born wrestler Walter Hahn who later changed his name to Walter Stark and recently began calling himself Walter Stark in (and out of) the ring. The real Gunther Stark was a well

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

It has been nearly 60 years since The Jetsons cartoon arrived on American televisions, but a recent USPTO trademark application filed by Astro Biosciences has elicited a trademark opposition from Hanna Barbera Productions, the cartoon’s producer, for the trademark “Astro Dog.” What product does Astro Biosciences make? Dog treats, of course. #TheJetsons #HannaBarbera #AstroBiosciences #USPTO #trademarks #trademarklaw #intellectualproperty #intellectualpropertylaw #DavidBaker #

“But he who dares not grasp the thorn. Should never crave the rose.” ― Anne Bronte Did you watch the Big Game? Kinda boring, wasn’t it? Even the commercials and halftime show seemed flat to me. Maybe it was the small COVID crowd or the fact that we were still under quarantine in California, but it just didn’t feel the same. Likewise, the end of the College football season didn’t seem the same either. Other than Alabama winning the National Championship, of course. That seems

Evermore Park, a small amusement park in Utah, has filed suit against Taylor Swift and her management company alleging that the naming of her most recent album Evermore (and the sale of related merchandise) constitutes trademark infringement. Why an obscure amusement park would complain of being linked to an international recording star remains unclear. #Evermore #EvermorePark #TaylorSwift #trademarks #copyrights #intellectualproperty #FederalCourt #USPTO #intellectualpropert

So, the first week of January really happened, didn’t it? And, if you were paying attention to the unrelenting media coverage from our nation’s capital, you probably noticed several of your fellow citizens sporting stylish t-shirts, baseball caps, and even morale patches (those Velcro® backed symbols originally used by the military) with a stylized skull on them as they helped themselves to unguided tours of the Capital Building. In this month’s IP Update, we explain where th

Capping the weird 2020-2021 NCAA football season, the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24 in the College Football National Championship Game last month. The Championship was played at the Orange Bowl venue, but the Orange Bowl® football game had already been played nine days earlier between Texas A&M and North Carolina. Adding to the confusion, Alabama had already played in the Rose Bowl® football game on January 1, beating Notre Dame 31 to 14, but that ga

"In the long-run, every government is the exact symbol of its people, with their wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government." - Thomas Carlyle So, the first week of January really happened, didn’t it? And, if you were paying attention to the unrelenting media coverage from our nation’s capital, you probably noticed several of your fellow citizens sporting stylish t-shirts, baseball caps, and even morale patches (those Velcro® backed symbols originally us

Despite having to deal with Covid-19 challenges in 2020, U.S. business will now have to contend with another challenge, higher trademark registration fees in 2021. The USPTO has announced increased fees of as much as $150 beginning January 2, 2021. If you hurry, you still have a few days to file in 2020. #USPTO #trademarks #trademarkfees #intellectualproperty #DavidBaker #IPLawyer #OCLawyer #BusinessLawyer #IPUpdate

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” - Groucho Marx How long does a trademark last? It lasts as long as it serves the purpose of identifying the source of goods or services. And this is no less true for a popular cartoon character that debuted in 1962. The Jetsons is an animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera that originally aired in primetime on American television from 1962–1963. It featured a space age family of the same

Last summer, Penn State University filed suit against (now) 80-year-old Paul L. Parshall of Naples, Florida, who has suffered two strokes and does not travel, but who has been using the trademarks "PENN STATE" and "NITTANY" in relation to selling beer and cigars (among other things). The problem? He doesn't have a license or an permission from the university to do so. In a joint report filed with the District Court last week, the university contends “Parshall’s infringement

With little fanfare and no official announcement, Sony has taken a big step towards the anticipated release of the next edition of its wildly popular gaming system, the PlayStation 5, by applying for registration of the “PS5” trademark. The PlayStation 5 is expected to be released later this year, most likely in the fall (and just in time for the holiday buying season), but Sony has been tight lipped about new features and game titles. However, if there was a surprise about t

Trademarks - Understand the basics