Leveraging the Trademark Clearinghouse: Protecting...

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Leveraging the Trademark Clearinghouse: Protecting Marks Under ICANN's gTLD System Strengthening Patent Portfolios, Correcting Patents, and Understanding the Risks and Limitations of Reissue Today’s faculty features: 1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's speakers. Please refer to the instructions emailed to registrants for additional information. If you have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 Presenting a live 90-minute webinar with interactive Q&A Deborah M. Lodge, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Washington, D.C. Monica Riva Talley, Director, Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, Washington, D.C. Anna B. Naydonov, Esq., Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, Washington, D.C.

Transcript of Leveraging the Trademark Clearinghouse: Protecting...

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Leveraging the Trademark Clearinghouse: Protecting Marks Under ICANN's gTLD System Strengthening Patent Portfolios, Correcting Patents,

and Understanding the Risks and Limitations of Reissue

Today’s faculty features:

1pm Eastern | 12pm Central | 11am Mountain | 10am Pacific

The audio portion of the conference may be accessed via the telephone or by using your computer's

speakers. Please refer to the instructions emailed to registrants for additional information. If you

have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 1-800-926-7926 ext. 10.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014

Presenting a live 90-minute webinar with interactive Q&A

Deborah M. Lodge, Partner, Squire Patton Boggs, Washington, D.C.

Monica Riva Talley, Director, Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, Washington, D.C.

Anna B. Naydonov, Esq., Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, Washington, D.C.

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Leveraging the Trademark

Clearinghouse:

Protecting Marks Under

ICANN's gTLD System

Deborah M. Lodge, Partner

Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP

Washington, DC 202-457-6030

[email protected]

November 18, 2014

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Review

1. Background: Expansion of Internet and Explosion of Top

Level Domains (TLDs)

2. Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) Basics

3. Registration in TMCH

4. Benefits and Limitations of the TMCH

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Expansion of Internet

Pre-2013: limited number of TLDs: .com, .org, .biz,

various Country Codes, such as .tv, .us, .de, .cn.

ICANN opened up the Internet skies in 2012.

Result: numerous “generic Top Level Domains” (gTLDs)

and .Brands coming online.

Now: 431 TLDs launched as of 11-10-2014; over 1400

TLDs expected.

Early November 2014:

Launch of .HOW and .WHOSWHO

Quite popular: .EXPERT, .GURU. .XYZ

GeoTLDs: .NYC, .PARIS, .VEGAS

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gTLD Allocation as of November 10, 2014

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Iloveyou.diamonds

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Trademarks In Peril!

Proliferation of gTLDs raised concerns about:

Trademark Infringements

Cybersquatting

Phishing

Typosquatting

Solution: TRADEMARK CLEARINGHOUSE

To increase protections for trademark owners.

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What is the Trademark Clearinghouse?

TMCH: a Database and Notice System

Database of Trademarks Meeting Certain Criteria

All gTLDs must check against the TMCH Database for new domain name registrations

“Claims Period”: 90 days after each TLD opens for general registration. Notice given to Domain Name applicants if their selection is a “direct match” of a Trademark in the TMCH System.

Notice to TMCH Registrants during Claims Period and “Ongoing Notice Period”

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TMCH Criteria for Registration

To qualify for TMCH Registration, a

trademark must be:

Nationally registered – e.g., USPTO

Protected by law or treaty – e.g., “Olympics” or

“Red Cross”

“Court-validated” unregistered

marks

Word marks; not logos or design marks

“Abused” marks

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BENEFITS OF TMCH

REGISTRATION

TMCH Registrants get notice if someone has

registered a domain name that is identical to their

TMCH-registered mark.

Delta.plumbing

Delta.voyage

Delta.aero

Domain name registrants get notice during the

90-day Claims Period if their chosen domain

name matches a TMCH Registration – could be

used later to show knowledge and willfulness.

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BENEFITS OF TMCH

REGISTRATION

TMCH Registrants can participate in TLD

“Sunrise” Periods

IF proof of actual use submitted to TMCH.

Sunrise Period: TMCH Registrants get

priority period for registering trademarks

as domain names in new gTLDs.

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LIMITATIONS OF TMCH

REGISTRATION

IT’S ONLY NOTICE: The “infringer” can

still register the infringing domain name.

Only applies to Direct Hits.

The TM Owner will need to take action:

• URS: Uniform Rapid Suspension

• UDRP: Uniform Dispute Resolution

Procedure – for Domain Names

• Infringement Suits, Cease & Desist Letters

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INNOVATIONS

BLOCKING SERVICES: DPML (Domain

Protected Mark List)

Some registries (e.g., Donuts and Rightside)

Offer Blocking Services:

Will block TMCH-registered mark across all THEIR

gTLDs

Can include “marksucks” and other variations

Some exceptions: “premium” domain names – per

gTLD

Trademark owner may trump a block (“Block Override”)

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LIMITATIONS OF TMCH

REGISTRATION

Only EXACT MATCHES trigger notices

Example: GUCCEE or GUCCIS would not

trigger notice if GUCCI registered in TMCH

Word marks only – no logos or designs

BUT: If word portion distinct, that can be

registered.

If mark uses a * or @, can be

registered. But no design elements will be

included.

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LIMITATIONS OF TMCH

REGISTRATION

TMCH Registration is Not Public

So limited information on registered entities and

marks.

Notices need follow-up review

Infringement may not be clear:

• Surnames, Descriptive Marks, Common

Terms

TMCH registrations must be renewed

periodically. Enrollment usually 1, 3, or 5 years.

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RISKS of TMCH REGISTRATION

Some investment

Some monitoring and policing

Could lead to increased litigation

BUT: Relatively Few Risks for Some

Additional Protection

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WEIGHING BENEFITS

Controversies remain.

Whether notice is helpful.

Whether leads to increased litigation and dispute.

Whether substantially adds to trademark

protections.

Statistics show use of TMCH is growing.

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TMCH Statistics as of September 2014

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Questions or Comments?

Deborah Lodge, Partner

Squire Patton Boggs

2550 M St. NW

Washington D.C.

202-457-6030

[email protected]

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Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP

Leveraging the Trademark Clearinghouse:

Protecting Marks Under ICANN’s gTLD

System

Presented by Anna B. Naydonov

Phone: (202) 679-7599

Email: [email protected]

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TMCH RIGHTS PROTECTION

MECHANISMS

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TMCH Rights Protection Mechanisms

• Sunrise Period: Priority period (minimum 30

days); allows trademark owners to register domain

names identical to their trademarks before

registration opens to the general public

if multiple marks match a domain name, TMCH will

decide who gets the domain name (sometimes

through “first-come, first served” process or via a

bidding procedure)

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TMCH Rights Protection Mechanisms

• Trademark Claims Service: Warning to

prospective applicant for domain name identical

to a record in the TMCH; if applicant proceeds,

trademark owner receives notice that a domain

name matching its trademark has been registered.

opens when Sunrise period ends

500,000 notices sent, 95% of recipients chose not to

pursue registration (March 2014)

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Domain Protected Marks List

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Donuts’ Domains Protected Marks List (DPML)

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• Rightside is another domain registry, smaller than

Donuts

• DPML registration with Rightside lasts for one

year. It plans to begin offering longer durations at

a later point.

• Registration can be for the exact match of the

trademark, a variation of the trademark, or the

trademark plus a variation.

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UNIFORM RAPID SUSPENSION

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What Is URS

• Abbreviated dispute resolution procedure only for gTLD

strings created or delegated after Jan. 1, 2013 (i.e., not .com,

.net, .us, etc.)

• Cheaper than UDRP: $375

• Fast: about 3 weeks (from filing Complaint to decision)

• Standard: clear and convincing evidence

There can be no issues of fact; reserved for straightforward

cases of infringement

• Remedy: suspension of domain name for the duration of

registration term

Unlike UDRP, does NOT award ownership of the domain to the

prevailing party

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What Is URS (cont’d)

• Two providers: National Arbitration Forum and Asian Domain

Name Dispute Resolution Centre

• Can be filed online; 500 word limit for submission (but can

attach exhibits, e.g., evidence of registrant’s bad faith)

• Once Complaint filed, the disputed domain placed on “lock”

• Once “lock” confirmed, registrant receives notice and has 14

days to submit a response

• Decision 3-5 business days after the response

• De novo appeal (must be filed within 14 days of decision)

new evidence may be introduced, but must predate the filing of the original

URS complaint

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URS Elements

• Requires proof of the following three elements by

clear and convincing evidence.

1.) The disputed domain is confusingly similar to a

registered word mark.

2.) The registrant had no legitimate rights in the domain

name.

3.) The registrant registered and used the domain in bad

faith.

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URS Stats

• As of Nov. 11, 2014, 164 URS proceedings filed

with NAR and 19 with the Asian Domain Name

Dispute Resolution Centre

• Vast majority of cases: disputed domain

suspended

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BAS Services & Graphics, LLC v. QA Graphics

• The Complainant’s word mark must be (1) subject to national or

regional registration and be in use; (2) validated through court

proceedings; (3) or specifically protected by a statute or treaty

[URS 1.2.6.1]

• BAS Services relied on “name certificate” filed with the State of

Texas, annual report, 2008 Florida Articles of Organization: “the

proceedings have been brought under the misapprehension that

Complainant may rely on common law rights”

• Complaint denied

Complaint submitted: Feb. 24, 2014

Decision: March 13, 2014

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Facebook Inc. v. Radoslav

• Challenged the domain www.facebok.pw

• First case filed under the URS

• Facebook showed by clear and convincing evidence:

1.) Domain was confusingly similar to its registered word mark.

2.) Registrant had no legitimate rights in the domain name.

3.) Registrant registered and used the domain in bad faith (it was a

pay-per-click website).

Complaint submitted: Aug. 21, 2013

Decision: Sept. 27, 2013

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Dana Ltd. v. Nawas

• Dana Holding Corp. challenged dana.holdings

Dana notified by TMCH, reached out to Registrant

• Registrant: “refused to address any of Dana’s concerns

including why he had a legitimate interest” in the domain;

“offered to sell the domain to Dana”

• Although “Dana” common female name, domain

suspended

Unlike many other URS decisions, attributed some weight to

“holding” TLD

Complaint submitted: Feb. 24, 2014

Decision: March 13, 2014

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Heartland Payment Sys., Inc. v. Whois Privacy

Protection Servs., Ramsey

• Heartland is one of the largest payment processors in the

U.S.

• Challenged domain name heartland.holdings

• Complaint denied:

heartland.holdings is a “merely revenue-generating pay-per click

advertising site” with “sponsored” and “related” links, including to

“Heartland Payment” (but also “Heartland Tours,” “Heartland

College,” “Heartland Poker Tour,” etc.)

“heartland” is a “dictionary word”;

failed to establish “that the relevant trademark is exclusively and

most commonly associated with Complainant”

domain name not used “in a manner that is exclusively and strongly

associated with [the] trademark.”

Complaint submitted: Mar. 7, 2014

Decision: March 27, 2014

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HOLA S.L. v. North Sound Names

• Challenged the domain hello.photo

• HOLA owner of the registered mark “HELLO!”

• Registrant in the business of acquiring domain

names that include “generic terms” for resale

• Complaint denied:

Failed to prove domain registered and used in bad faith;

“Previous decisions involving domain names based on

generic, commonly used terms consistently denied”;

To prevail, there must be “some other proof” of bad faith

(e.g., actual notice of TM prior to registration or a pattern of

registering protected marks). Complaint submitted: July 17, 2014

Decision: Aug. 9, 2014

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• Virgin contested the domain branson.guru

• Registrant never filed a response

• Virgin lost because the examiner found:

1.) Virgin had not shown that it had strong rights in the

word mark BRANSON;

2.) Virgin had not shown by clear and convincing evidence

that the Registrant did not have any legitimate rights in

the domain name.

Virgin Enterprises Limited v. Lawrence Fain

Complaint submitted: Feb. 27, 2014

Decision: Mar. 20, 2014

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• branson.guru used as “generic, monetized parking page for the registrar, Go

Daddy, which does not appear to include any references to Complainant,

Richard Branson, or the BRANSON trademark.”

Virgin Enterprises Limited v. Lawrence Fain

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YoYo.Email

• registered a large number of brands as

brand.email eharmony.email

garnier.email

sanofi.email

lockheed.email

footlocker.email

geico.email

baskinrobbins.email

luefthansa.email

stuartweitzman.email

and many others …..

• “email courier service”

provides certification of delivery and potentially receipt of emails

use as “non-public, non-consumer facing, back-end email

server”

• $82,000 in registration fees for the brand.email domains; $170,000 in

overall development of its email services

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Deutsche Lufthansa AG v. yoyo.email

• lufthansa.email

• Lufthansa has not authorized Respondent’s use of

the mark and has no affiliation with Respondent

• “Respondent did not present demonstrable

preparations to use the Domain Name in

connection with a bona fide offering of goods”

• domain name suspended

Complaint submitted: April 7, 2014

Decided: April 28, 2014

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Foot Locker Retail, Inc. v. yoyo.email

• footlocker.email

• yoyo “concedes that it has sunk substantial economic

costs into the development of the system and that it

intends to recover those costs”

• “Because the system is built on a foundation that

includes [Footlocker’s] domain name, this is enough to

establish that the system is commercial in character and

that Respondent intends to obtain commercial gain from

the use of [Foot Locker’s] marks.”

• domain name suspended

Complaint filed: June 18, 2014

Decision: July 8, 2014

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Stuart Weitzman IP, LLC v. yoyo.email

• Complaint denied on appeal

• yoyo argued that the service is “completely free”;

“not going to make use of any brand logo or

claim any affiliation with any .email it operates”

• Unlike Lufthansa, “no record evidence of

Respondent’s intent to monetize the free email

service” (although exact same business model at

issue)

Complaint filed: April 18, 2014

Decision: June 24, 2014

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eHarmony, Inc. v. yoyo.email

• Complaint denied

• yoyo attached in response a copy of DJ

Complaint in the D. Ar.

• Based on documents submitted in the federal court

action, Examiner decided that eHarmony has not

demonstrated by “clear and convincing evidence”

that the domain name was registered and is being

used in bad faith

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yoyo.email, LLC v. Playinnovation, Ltd.

• Declaratory judgment action in the United

States District Court for the District of Arizona

based on URS action against yoyo

• asked to declare yoyo’s business model non-

infringing, not a “trademark use”

• Nov. 5, 2014 Consent Motion for Declaratory

Judgment: “legitimate purpose to certify the sending and receipt of emails”

domain name restored to yoyo from suspension BUT

(1) disclaimer of no affiliation with Playinnovation in Terms of

Use and (2) disclaimer in the metadata for all email submitted

through playinnovation.email

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Questions?

Anna B. Naydonov

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,

Garrett & Dunner, LLP

(202) 679-7599

[email protected]

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© 2013 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. © 2014 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.

November 13, 2014

S K G F. C O M

Best Practices for Protecting Brands

in the New gTLD Landscape

Monica Riva Talley

202.772.8688

[email protected]

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What We Know

• ICANN expects more than 1300 new gTLDs to go live in the following

years; as of November 7, 432 new gTLDs were available

• As of now, approximately 3.1 million domain names had been registered

in the new gTLD space

• Right now we are seeing approximately 7 new registries launch every

week

• To date, the top five strings in terms of gTLD registrations list are:

1. .xyz 4. .berlin

2. .club 5. .photography

3. .guru

New gTLD Launch to Date

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What We Know (con’t)

• The most popular new string .xyz, which is marketing itself as an

alternative to the crowded .com registry, has amassed nearly 525,000

registrations alone

• World Trademark Review (WTR) recently

examined the .xyz domain registration of the

50 most valuable brands and found that 80%

had either registered or blocked their brand in

this space

• WTR’s review also found evidence of prevalent

cybersquatting; for example, a single individual

currently owns the domains names

“americanexpress,” “honda,” and “homedepot” in the .xyz space

New gTLD Launch to Date

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What We Know (con’t)

• Emerging economies have no legacy investment in .com names

• In March the Clearinghouse revealed that in excess of 500,000 Claims

Notices had been issued, and 95% of the infringing domain registrations

were no longer being pursued

• Many larger brands are taking advantage of blocking services offered by

providers such as Donuts and Rightside Registry

New gTLD Launch to Date

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© 2014 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. 53 S K G F. C O M

What We Don’t Know

• Impact of new gTLDs on search engine results/brand visibility; how Google

and other search engines will change their algorithms to accommodate the

new gTLDs

• Impact of increased international use and access

• Consumer acceptance of new gTLDs

• How brands will exploit new gTLDs, will they become active marketplaces?

??? ???

New gTLD Launch to Date

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Activity to Date

• TMCH -- nearly 33,000 marks from 103 countries and

covering 119 jurisdictions have been submitted

• The TMCH will be accepting mark submissions and renewals

indefinitely

• On November 5 of this year, the first group of TMCH

registrations was up for renewal

• Utilization of the TMCH is uneven even among major brands,

some brands are more active than others

Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)

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© 2014 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. 55 S K G F. C O M

Offensive Registration

• Access to new gTLDs – a TMCH registration allows access to

early registration of new gTLDs during the Sunrise Period,

increases likelihood of obtaining desired domains

Defensive Registration

• Ease of enforcement; access to dispute mechanisms

• Blocking registrations relating to certain domains (.sex, .porn.,

.adult, .sucks)

TMCH Registration Strategies

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© 2014 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. 56 S K G F. C O M

Brand Considerations

• Rank brands in order of importance to the client and the brand

• Likely brand targets for registration with new gTLDs, which

brands will benefit from new marketplaces, exposure

• Register house marks, company name(s), core brands

• Products/services sold online

• Social media brands

• Mobile application brands

• Brands with enforcement/counterfeiting issues

TMCH Registration Strategies

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gTLD Considerations

• Consider new gTLDs that encompass relevant sectors relating to the

client's business or brand, and consider obtaining TMCH registrations for

brands that may fit into these sectors

• Consider likelihood of actually attaining the target gTLDs (i.e., are they

generic or descriptive, owned by more than one party, etc.), benefits from

access to Sunrise Periods

• Consider bulk/package deals offered by registries – will TMCH registration

enable access

TMCH Registration Strategies

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• Start as soon as possible; already a year into the launch

process

• Low cost of entry, low risk from opting to participate

• Don't discount value and impact of new gTLDs

Final Thoughts

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© 2014 Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein, & Fox P.L.L.C. All Rights Reserved. 59 S K G F. C O M

For More Information

Monica Riva Talley, Esq.

Trademark, Advertising, and

Anti-Counterfeiting Practice Leader

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox

202.772.8688

[email protected]