“Excuse me while I kiss this guy”
Michael Atkins, that is. Well, that’s what Hendrix always sounded to me to be saying in “Purple Haze” [corrected! — RDC]. Anyway, Mike continues his dogged... Read more
Category: Rights of Publicity and Personality
Drink to me only with thine eyes
A week or so ago it was the sad story of Jimi Hendrix on the bottle. Now the TTABlog reports on another famous-dead-guy-as-booze-trademark case: Applicant... Read more
Best of 2013: Arnold Palmer and the Perfect Brand
As seen in the Benny Goodman case in the TTAB, celebrity, brand power and trademark rights may outlive a celebrity’s peak performing years, but will bear fruit only... Read more
The Dead Hand of Copyright
Zorro first appeared in 1919. Naturally, Sony claims it owns him. (Is this a Sony company?) A little filmmaking outfit called Sobini begs to differ... Read more
Best of 2013: False connections under the Lanham Act
First published on June 7, 2013. John Welch has posted a collection of “false connection” claims under Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1052(a)).... Read more
Autographs as trademarks: Sign right here
The signature of John Hancock on the Declaration of Independence is so famous that among Americans, the term “John Hancock” has become a synonym for “signature.” Virtually... Read more
Trayvon, we hardly knew ye
The headline: Trayvon Martin’s family looks to trademark ‘I am Trayvon,’ ‘Justice for Trayvon’: Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton is seeking to trademark [sic] phrases... Read more
Best of 2012: Trayvon, we hardly knew ye
The headline: Trayvon Martin’s family looks to trademark ‘I am Trayvon,’ ‘Justice for Trayvon’: Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton is seeking to trademark [sic] phrases... Read more
Sing, sing, sing!
John Welch suggests the musical question, “How is Section 2(a) false association like 43(c) dilution protection?” Great question. In other words, are the famous —... Read more
I Beg to Differ, Sir
It’s rare that one gets the opportunity to sue his hero—but, as my wife recently remarked to me, “You’re dangerous when you’re bored.” This is... Read more
Moldy oldies
Cohen the “Trademark Attorney” (his SEO people told him to sign blog posts as “Trademark Attorney” I guess; I think it worked, too!) has this... Read more
It was twenty years ago today
Okay, not quite 20, but 16 years ago that Apple Inc. and the Beatles’ old record label, Apple Corps, entered into an agreement regarding the... Read more
Death of an Icon
A story from the L.A. Times / Washington Post syndicate, evidently sent to press before the Pope’s death, told of the increase in sales of... Read more
Evel Knievel’s tarnished reputation
Yahoo! News reports that the Ninth Circuit (them again!) has ruled that an online photo caption referring to him in the presence of two women... Read more