Howard Klein-Lunch & Learn Presentation January 8, 2016
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HOWARD J. KLEIN Attorney at Law Partner: Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP © 2015 Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
Transcript of Howard Klein-Lunch & Learn Presentation January 8, 2016
HOWARD J. KLEINAttorney at LawPartner: Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
© 2015 Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
I. What is a trademark?II. Choosing a trademarkIII. Acquiring a trademark: use and registrationIV. Registration ProcedureV. Copyright vs. Trademark
Any word, phrase, symbol, design (“logo”), or combination that identifies to the relevant market a source of a product or service
Serves as a “brand” (derived from cattle brand)
Can be a color John Deere Greene Heinz Turquoise
Can be aural NBC Intel
Can be olfactory Can be product design Coke
Can be décor
Vary in strength (in declining order)1. Coined/Fanciful words,
Logos▪ “XEROX,” “EXXON”▪ Nike “Swoosh”
2. Arbitrary▪ “APPLE”
3. Suggestive▪ “MICROSOFT” Software
4. Descriptive▪ “Tasty Freez” Ice Cream▪ “Lite” Beer
Generic words/phrases cannot be trademarked “Shredded Wheat” Can become generic
▪ Aspirin Use trademark as
adjective, NEVER as noun or verb Prevents becoming
generic Kleenex Velcro
Go for strength Search! USPTO Database Private Search Firms Search Engines like
Google® Don’t forget URLs! Similar/related goods or
services Avoid “famous” marks “Starbucks” video game?
Priority of use in interstate/international commerce: Common Law Rights
Registration: Optional? No deadline, but sooner is (usually) better Benefits: ▪ Nationwide notice (less likely “innocent” infringement) ▪ Use of ® symbol▪ Presumptions of Validity & Ownership▪ Block infringing imports at point of entry (Principal
Register)
Cannot register Generic Primarily “merely” a
surname Geographically misleading Immoral/Scandalous/
Deceptive National/Olympic symbols
(even word “Olympic”) Names of living persons
(w/o consent) “Disparaging”: OK? “SLANTS” “REDSKINS”
Primary meaning to public is trademark
Acquired through exclusive use/notoriety
Descriptive Pizza Hut
Surname Ford
Geographically Descriptive Florida’s Natural Not geographically
misleading▪ Napa Harvest for Oregon Wine
Federal: Application to USPTO Used in Commerce vs. Intent to Use Mark as used/intended to be used If used in commerce:
▪ Date of first use, use in commerce, description of goods/services (and proposed classes), specimen
▪ Examination, allowance, publication, registration If “Intent-to-use”
▪ Description of goods/services (and proposed classes)▪ Examination, publication, allowance, statement of use, registration▪ Statement of use: date of use in interstate/foreign commerce, with
specimen; 6 mos. from allowance (with extension) Help
▪ uspto.gov ▪ Lawyer?
State: if use is solely intrastate Protection varies state-by-state (CA pretty good) No ®
Infringement: Likelihood of confusion Term: Theoretically perpetual (unless abandoned,
“genericized”) Fed. Registration: 10 yrs, renewable (Proof of use
needed between 5th and 6th anniversaries of first registration
Copyright for original “works” of “authorship” Ad copy Graphic Arts Textual Material NOT for simple words/phrases/logotypes
No “common law” copyright “Notice” encouraged: Publication w/o notice
may allow “ innocent” infringement Remember title slide?
HOWARD J. KLEINAttorney at LawPartner: Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
© 2015 Klein, O’Neill & Singh, LLP
Infringement: Copying Presumed from substantial
similarity and access Registration “optional” Needed to file suit Statutory damages only if w/in
3 mos. of publication If work is a “work made for
hire,” term 95 yrs. from publication; if not, life of author plus 70 yrs. No renewal.
TM/Copyright overlap-Characters (“Mickey Mouse”) and Artistic logos/labels (“Budweiser” label)
