Year: 2013

Tesla Trademark Registration Shake Down in China

Trademark AttorneyLike many other companies, electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors is looking to expand into China. It may have to put its plans on hold though due to trademark registration problems. In 2009, an opportunistic Chinese businessman, Zhan Baosheng, filed a trademark application with the Chinese trademark office covering the mark TESLA in 12 different classes, including cars and auto parts. The trademark application was ultimately granted giving Baosheng a trademark registration for the mark TESLA. So when Tesla filed its Chinese trademark application, the application was rejected, with the Chinese trademark office citing Baosheng’s earlier trademark registration. So, for the time being, Tesla has no legal right to commercially use its TESLA mark in China, which is a big problem for the car company looking to take advantage of the exploding Chinese demand for automobiles.

Continue reading “Tesla Trademark Registration Shake Down in China”

“Clean Slate” Software in Dark Knight Rises, Not Trademark Infringement

trademark LawyerThe latest installment of the Batman movie franchise was a big hit with fans. It told the story of Batman attempting to thwart Bane’s plot to send Gotham City into chaos. One of the subplots of the movie was Catwoman’s effort to obtain the “Clean Slate” software to help her erase her criminal history. It turns out that this fictional software written into the movie is not so fictional and the company behind the actual Clean Slate software believed that Warner Bros. infringed on their registered trademark by using the name in the movie. This prompted the company to file a trademark infringement lawsuit against Warner Bros. But as most who go up against Batman discover, he usually comes out on top.

Continue reading ““Clean Slate” Software in Dark Knight Rises, Not Trademark Infringement”

Adidas Trademark Application Rejection Puts Derek Rose in Tough Spot

Trademark ApplicationChicago native, Derrick Rose, has an endorsement deal with Adidas worth $250 million over 14 years. That’s why the recent rejection of Adidas’ trademark application for their brand name Adizero is so interesting. It turns out that Adidas’ trademark application was rejected based on a likelihood of confusion with a registered trademark of a small Chicago area church. The trademark attorney for the church is asking Rose to side with the church in the dispute despite his affiliation with Adidas. This conflict of interest puts Rose in a tough situation.

Continue reading “Adidas Trademark Application Rejection Puts Derek Rose in Tough Spot”

Apple Trademark Application Trouble in Mexico

trademark registrationYou may have read our earlier blog post about Apple’s trademark troubles in Brazil.  In Brazil, a company called Gradiente beat Apple to the Brazilian trademark office and registered the name iPhone long before Apple released their mega-hit mobile phone.  Because Gradiente was the first to obtain a trademark registration, they are entitled to exclude Apple from using the “iphone” mark in Brazil. Since we last wrote about this story, Apple has been able to bring its considerable resources to bear and the two companies are currently in negotiations over a deal that would allow Apple to use the brand in Brazil. But just when Apple appears to be resolving that problem, a new issue has emerged for Apple’s trademark attorneys in Latin America.

Continue reading “Apple Trademark Application Trouble in Mexico”

Google Trademark Attorneys Crack Down on Swedish Language

trademark attorneyThat’s ogooglebar!  If you’ve had recent conversations with your Swedish friends, you may have heard this term.  In fact, it’s become so commonly used in Sweden that the Swedish Language Council planned to officially add it to the Swedish language. The English translation basically means ungoogleable, something that you can’t find through the use of a search engine.  With our ever increasing reliance on internet searches it’s a useful term, but it is also a term that Google wants to make sure is handled with appropriate care.  That’s why Google’s trademark attorneys recently contacted the Language Council asking them to reference Google’s status as a registered trademark and to change the definition from all search engines to Google specifically.  This was not a vanity move by Google, but rather a move to protect their trademark registration.

Continue reading “Google Trademark Attorneys Crack Down on Swedish Language”

Android Trademark Attorneys File Infringement Suit

Trademark AttorneyBefore Google came around, the only place you were likely to hear the word “android” was at a sci-fi convention. But the term has become popularized since Google branded its smartphone operating system ANDROID. Commercials and advertisements for the newest smartphones promote devices offering the latest version of Android along with a host of other features. Due to the popularity of the operating system, Android has become somewhat of a buzzword. But as it turns out, geeks and nerds weren’t the only ones using the term Android before Google and now Google will need to consult its trademark attorneys because it is facing a lawsuit for trademark infringement.

Continue reading “Android Trademark Attorneys File Infringement Suit”

Trademark Application for Apple iPad Mini Initially Denied Registration

Trademark RegistrationApple Inc.’s trademark attorneys must be working overtime.  In the last few months we’ve seen Apple involved in trademark issues in China, Brazil, Mexico and now at home in the United States.  The most recent issue stems from Apple’s trademark application for the iPad Mini, the baby brother to the ubiquitous iPad.  Apple was previously able to secure a trademark registration on iPad, but recently an examining attorney at the United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected Apple’s attempt to register IPAD MINI.

Continue reading “Trademark Application for Apple iPad Mini Initially Denied Registration”

Metallica Trademark Application Draws Opposition: Which Metal Heads Won?

trademark attorney battle for MetallicaWhat do a small Canadian metal manufacturing shop and the band Metallica have in common?  They share the same name.  The metal shop chose the name Metallica Manufacturing in the late 1990s, well after the heavy metal band had established itself worldwide.  But the metal shop owners didn’t imagine choosing the same name as the band would cause any confusion or perceived endorsement of the metal shop by the band.  They just thought it had a nice ring to it. So they file a trademark application for the mark Metallica. It turns out, however, that the band’s trademark attorneys didn’t take lightly to use of the band’s name, even if the band’s metalwork was musical and not mechanical.

Continue reading “Metallica Trademark Application Draws Opposition: Which Metal Heads Won?”

Trademark Attorneys from Aero and Aereo Battle For Trademark Rights

Trademark dispute AeroInternet-based content streaming providers have been a thorn in the side of the major TV networks for the last few years.  Streaming technology has made it possible for viewers to do their own thing, without regard for the networks’ advertising systems.  Lately, the legal implications of this controversial technology have been the focus of much attention. In fact, now there is a new twist in the legal battles. Trademark attorneys have now become involved in some of the newest battles.

Continue reading “Trademark Attorneys from Aero and Aereo Battle For Trademark Rights”

Trademark Attorneys for Facebook Gear Up to Fight for ‘Timeline’

social media trademarksNot long ago, with plenty of fanfare and speculation, Facebook Inc. went public. Since then, Facebook has been implementing new changes to its website operation and layout. Some people like the changes more than others. One company, Timelines.com, an online scrapbooking company based in Chicago, took issue with one of the changes — the profile “timeline” element. Apparently, Timeline.com’s trademark attorney believes Facebook’s timeline infringes Timeline.com’s “timeline” brand.

Continue reading “Trademark Attorneys for Facebook Gear Up to Fight for ‘Timeline’”