Category Archives: trademark

I’m stuck on Choc-Aid

because it melted in my hands: Choc-Aid (R) Milk Chocolate bandages Note the (R).  http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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Accusation of "instability" actionable but use of generic term isn’t confusing

EndoSurg Medical, Inc. v. EndoMaster Medical, Inc., No. GJH–14–2827, 2014 WL 7336691 (D. Md. Dec. 19, 2014)   Plaintiff EndoSurg makes endoscope replacement components, and plaintiff EndoCure makes custom rigid and small diameter flexible endoscopes.  (Endoscopic surgery requires inserting an … Continue reading

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Pom Wonderful’s happy new year on likely confusion

Pom Wonderful LLC v. Hubbard, No. 14-55253 (9th Cir. Dec. 30, 2014) The Ninth Circuit is the source of some of IP’s highest highs and its lowest lows.  The reader is invited to consider where this decision fits.  The district … Continue reading

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Transformative work of the day

Indiana Bones and the Raiders of the Lost Bark.  Via ST. http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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Failure to disclose potato variety isn’t misleading

Zuckerman Family Farms, Inc. v. Bidart Bros., No. 1:14–cv–01529, 2014 WL 7239423 (E.D. Cal. Dec. 17, 2014)   Plaintiffs sued for violation of the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA), the Lanham Act, and California Business Practices Code section 17200 et … Continue reading

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Seen at the Spy Museum

Matzohball, an Israel Bond thriller, a new adventure of Hebrew secret agent Oy-Oy-7, by Sol Weinstein, author of Loxfinger. http://tushnet.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

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Rogers applies when film is simply named for character

Valencia v. Universal City Studios LLC, No. 1:14–CV–00528, 2014 WL 7240526 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 18, 2014)   Valencia, professionally known as Honey Rockwell, sued Universal for invasions of privacy; fraud, false advertising, and unfair competition; and trademark dilution.   Valencia … Continue reading

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Do you have to buy the IP to buy the "company"?

A.Hak Industrial Services BV v. TechCorr USA, LLC, 2014 WL 7272796, No. 3:11–CV–74 (N.D. W. Va. Dec. 18, 2014)   Berkeley Springs Instruments (BSI) sold certain IP rights in robotic tank inspection and cleaning technology to A.Hak. TechCorr argued that … Continue reading

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Soul survivor: publicity and TM claims against recorded performance fail

Cummings v. Soul Train Holdings LLC, 2014 WL 7008952, No. 14 Civ. 36 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 12, 2014) This right of publicity/trademark case based on use of recorded performances to which the plaintiff didn’t own the copyright could’ve gone a lot … Continue reading

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PTO roundtable on the accuracy and integrity of the TM register

USPTO Roundtable: Ensuring the Accuracy and Integrity of the Trademark Register (Note: I wasn’t able to attend in person so I just didn’t get names) Debbie Kahn, commissioner for TMs Registration renewals: pilot requiring additional proof of use for 500 … Continue reading

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