Taco Tuesday Trademark
There are a lot of monikers for the different days of the week; Manic Monday, Thirsty Thursday, and Sunday Funday®. One popular moniker used on Tuesdays is Taco Tuesday®. Tuesdays are typically a…
Andrei Iancu Named as Nominee for USPTO Director
The Trump administration announced on Friday August 25, 2017 that the President will nominate Andrei Iancu as the next director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Assuming that…
Conan O'Brien Sued for Stealing Jokes
What did the comedy writer say to the comedian…? Sounds like the beginning of a good joke; but in this case, the comedy writer is suing the comedian. Robert “Alex” Kaseberg, a blogger and comedy…
Supreme Court Makes Decision on Disparaging Trademarks
Can the government refuse trademark protection for a name that is considered offensive or disparaging? Until recently, the answer to this question was “yes.” However, in a unanimous decision, in…
Apple Patents Solution to Soggy Pizza
Apple, Inc. is world-renown in the technology field, and famous for their innovation in smartphones and tablets. Deeply involved with all things intellectual property, it is no surprise Apple boasts…
Motion to Amend in an IPR Defeated in the CAFC
In the recent case Shinn Fu vs. Tire Hanger, No. 16-2250 (Fed. Cir. 2017), decided on July 3, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) vacated a Patent Trial and…
UC Davis Wins Strawberry Suit
Most people associate California with the beach and Hollywood. However, California is more than just a state with vacation spots and pop-culture. In fact, California is an agricultural giant, leading…
STRONGER Patents Act of 2017 Introduced
In June of 2017, Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced the Support Technology & Research for Our Nation’s Growth and Economic Resilience Act (the STRONGER Patents Act), legislation which is…
Has the Term Google Become Generic?
What do escalators, aspirin, thermos, and videotape have in common? They were once trademarked but lost their legally protected status because they became too generic. Fortunately, for Google, their…
The Supreme Court to Determine the Constitutionality of Inter Partes Reviews
In Oil States Energy Services LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group, LLC, the Supreme Court of the United States will consider the constitutionality of post-grant challenges to patents through inter partes…
“Welcome to the Hotel California”?
The Eagles, a rock band known for their many award-winning songs and albums, have filed a trademark lawsuit in the U.S. District Court, Central District of California against a hotel in Mexico. The…
Nestle Loses Appeal to Trademark KitKat Bar's Shape
Candy bar maker Nestlé has recently lost an appeal to gain trademark protection for the shape of their famous KitKat bar. In many cases, a particular shape can illicit the thought of an associated…