RPJ’s Gregory P. Feit was recently featured in a Law360 article examining the intersection of trademark enforcement, parody, commercial speech, and brand protection in the closely watched dispute between outdoor apparel company Patagonia and environmental activist and drag performer “Pattie Gonia.” The case centers on a trademark infringement lawsuit filed...
By Ariana Zhao and Daniel Jason Ain Golf legend Jack W. Nicklaus recently secured a decisive legal victory against the company that bears his name, Nicklaus Companies, LLC (the “Company”). The jury’s verdict marked the latest chapter in an unfortunately long-running legal saga over the control, branding, and reputation of...
By Deena R. Merlen and Katie Bigley RPJ’s corporate intellectual property practice is overseen by Partner Deena R. Merlen and Business and Legal Affairs Manager Katie Bigley, who share the following important warnings about fraudulent USPTO communications and misleading solicitations. When you submit a trademark application to the United...
Last week, RPJ’s Daniel Ain was featured by Law360 in an article addressing the recent controversy surrounding the use of Duke University apparel in HBO’s hit series White Lotus. In the current third season of the dark comedy one of the main characters, a Duke graduate, fears he may be incriminated...
In a recent article for Success.com, RPJ’s Nafsika Karavida explores the escalating trademark dispute between WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg and hosting provider WP Engine. She provides valuable insight into the legal complexities of the case and the potential impact on businesses that depend on the open-source CMS. The article describes...
When you are a creative person, your creations are called “intellectual property.” In order to protect one’s creations, whether literary works, music or art, most people diligently safeguard their intellectual property rights via copyrights, trademarks, patents, etc. Yet, many people do not think to consider what happens to these rights...
By Nafsika Karavida and Cleopatra Elrashidy The U.S. Supreme Court’s bite proved louder than its bark when it comes to trademark infringement, when it clarified in a recent unanimous decision in Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC [1] how source confusion is the bane of trademark law’s twin...
Talking about the Metaverse is like having a discussion about what “the internet” is in the 1970s or what “the cloud” is in the early 2000s. So what exactly is the Metaverse and what is all the hype about? Simply put, the Metaverse is a new iteration of the internet...
By Larry Brocchini When my college-bound son asked me if the word “THE” could be trademarked, I wondered if my love for IP law had rubbed off on him. Turns out, his curiosity was driven by his passion for sports, not trademarks. Specifically, Ohio State University (an institution my son...
Earlier this month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) quietly announced a new rule pertaining to all trademark applicants, registrants, and parties to trademark proceedings whose permanent legal residence or principal place of business is outside the United States. Commencing as of August 3, 2019, when the...