Unfortunately U.S. trademark owners continue to get fraudulent offers promising to renew their trademarks.  The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office is fighting back against these sham offers but be careful!  Call us if you have questions about a solicitation you have received.  Don’t be misled. 

Sometimes clients come up with trademark names that have unintended (and very funny) translations.  I wish I could share some funny examples from my law practice but must honor client confidentiality.  I got a hearty chuckle out of this story:    

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/07/beer-brand-and-leather-store-unwittingly-named-after-maori-word-for-pubic-hair

I know it’s a little (maybe a lot) nerdy, but my teenage son and I have a Spotify playlist of our favorite parody songs.  It’s been fun introducing him to Weird Al Yankovic.  But sometimes the company who is the subject of the parody wants to put the jokester in the legal doghouse. 

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/jack-daniel-s-and-bad-spaniels-face-off-in-parody-trademark-case-unfiltered

I have a confession.  My cease and desist letters aren’t this funny:  

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bill-murray-doobie-brothers-cease-and-desist_n_5f6ceb03c5b6e2c91262d8c1