Search Engine Optimization and Trademark Infringement

Search engine optimization is a crucial aspect of a company’s online business success. It is what makes them visible to their potential customers. Before we move forward into the case at hand, let’s further understand the definition of a trademark and what it protects. A trademark is a word, symbol, or phrase, used to identify […]

Is Virgin Olive Oil a Thing of the Past?

If Richard Branson has his way, it might be.  Mr. Branson, the tremendously successful entrepreneur and chairman and founder of the Virgin Group has instituted a policy whereby the company’s lawyers aggressively target any company that uses the name Virgin in its own name, its marketing materials or within its URL. The Virgin group has […]

Protecting trademarks on social media

Social media is an excellent way to present your brand to new and existing customers. Much of commerce takes place online, and social media allows you to effectively market goods and services affordably. As others share your posts and products, new customers see your brand. Like much of the Internet, however, it is difficult to […]

The Feds Win!

The Voice of America was created in 1942.  It became famous during World War II when radio emcees would broadcast news, songs, updates and even propaganda to US and Allied citizens, and also to listeners in “enemy territory” who could pick up the broadcast signal.  By the end of World War II, they provided content […]

You’ve got a great idea on a new product or service and you know exactly what you want to name it.  Because you’re sure this will be your name, you might think that one of the first things you do is to register the trademark. But in reality, rushing to be first might not always […]

Where is Ski Town USA?

Most people think of Ski Town USA as Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  The Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation trademarked the name in 1959.  Earlier this year, in order to entice more skiers to their city, the Visit Salt Lake organization started a campaign urging people to visit Ski City USA.  They advertised that once you visited […]

On August 12, 2014, the film director Terry Gilliam was sued over a mural painting in his latest movie, The Zero Theorem. A group of street artists, two from Argentina and one from Canada filed the lawsuit claiming the alleged plagiarizing their mural in Argentina. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Illinois and […]

The Fight Over Mickey

Approximately twenty years ago, Joel Zimmerman, a young teenager, was working on his computer when it suddenly quit working.  Smelling something burning, Joel opened up the computer only to find a dead mouse inside.  Inspired by this somewhat gruesome incident, he created the stage persona of Deadmau5 (pronounced dead mouse)! Zimmerman is a DJ and […]

The History of Who Dat???

Who Dat!”- The supporting cry for the New Orleans Saints is actually trademarked by a few San Antonio musicians.  In 1983, Steve and Sal Monistere recorded their own version of “The Saints Go Marching In” with a “who dat” chant in the song and shortly thereafter trademarked both the “Who Dat!” And “Who Dat?” phrases.  […]

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