Dumb Starbucks, the Los Feliz, CA, pseudo-coffee shop with the look and feel of the ubiquitous Seattle-based Starbucks Corporation has reopened discussion as to what constitutes “fair use” of another’s trademark, and what is just plain trademark infringement. For a few days the origin of the single Dumb Starbucks location was unknown, but Comedy Central […]
If you haven’t shelled out at least $1 million in a sponsorship deal with the NFL, what will you call what you watch on Sunday? The NFL owns at least eight trademarks (including “Super Bowl”, “Pro Bowl” and “Super Sunday”) and has a nasty reputation for being overly aggressive about protecting their IP. It also […]
Businesses everywhere stood up and took notice when the European Commission’s Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM) recently rejected “in its entirety” Pinterest Inc.’s claim to the Pinterest trademark in the EU. It seems like a company called Pinterest would be a prime candidate to register the trademark “Pinterest” – unless a small […]
By Megan Wargacki: Doissant. Cronut. Doughssant. These are variations on a croissant-donut hybrid. The Cronut is sold in New York, the Doughssant is sold in Ohio, and the Doissant is not yet on sale. Which name sticks in your mind the best? When you next visit Ohio, and you want to try this new pastry, […]
By Megan Wargacki: Economic espionage, cybercrime and trade secret theft against U.S. businesses has doubled in the last seven years from 1988-199, doubled again in the nine years between 1995 and 2004 and is slated to double again by 2017. Business’ trade secrets are vulnerable to disloyal employees, neglectful employees, competitors, hackers, or even foreign […]