Idaho Law Blog

I think this guy has too many oars in the water: Published for registration under the Madrid Protocol to owner Francesco Cirillo of Berlin, Germany:

First, there’s nothing that draws customers like the sound of a screaming toddler or a college student who has stepped out of his safe place. But what the heck is he trying to sell with this mark? According to his application he is using the mark for:

“Recorded content… featuring music and animation; … audiovisual receivers; magnets, magnetizers and demagnetizers for magnetic tapes; … electrical integrated control systems for use in the field of waste water treatment, information management and communications; apparatus, instruments in the nature of electricity conduits and cables for electricity; optical devices, enhancers and correctors, namely, optical lenses; safety, security, protection and signally devices, namely, cables for optical signal transmission; diving equipment, namely, helmets; navigation, guidance, tracking, targeting and map making devices, namely, global positioning systems; measuring, detecting and monitoring instruments, indicators and controllers, namely, computer hardware; scientific research and laboratory apparatus, educational apparatus and simulators, namely, electronic clinicians training simulators; and parts and fittings for all the aforementioned goods…”

The Idaho State Journal ran this AP article on Wednesday, December 2, about trademark infringement litigation between the San Diego Comic-Con and the Salt Lake Comic Con. The Associated Press (probably actually a reporter for one of the Salt Lake papers) notes that the parties appear close to a settlement of the lawsuit, but it is a little confused about the legalities.

4The San Diego Comic-Con has run conventions in California for years, while Dan Farr Productions of Draper, Utah has run the Salt Lake Comic Con since 2013. More than 120,000 people attended the SLCC this year, in spite of a trademark infringement suit filed last year by the San Diego group in 2014.

The San Diego group (SDCC) has a number of registered trademarks, including the design mark

TRADEMARK OF THE DAY

There’s a lot to be learned about the legal and the business ends of the trademark and marketing business by studying what gets approved and used as marks. There is also a lot to be learned about life in this world. Since I flip through the Trademark Official Gazette every week anyway — that’s where all the newly-approved trademarks get published — I thought I’d use this space to share a few gems that I come across.

I don’t think they quite get the point of this business: Both of these marks appeared in last week’s Gazette, approved for registration in International Class 25 for wide ranges of women’s clothing:

I’m back! After three years in a temporary stint as General Counsel for Idaho State University, I am returning to my regularly-scheduled practice, including intellectual property and internet law. We thought this blog would be a good place for me to answer some of the questions that people commonly have about these topics. If you have one that you would like to see addressed on these pages, write me at ipblog@racinelaw.net and I will try to answer.

For the record: I am not a patent lawyer, although I will talk about patent law issues from time to time, and I have litigated a few patent cases. I can’t file patents for you, and I won’t search patents for you, but I can help you figure out if you have an issue and direct you to a patent lawyer who can help.

I have worked on trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property issues for the last 15 years, and there are many things I can help you with, from registering a trademark to dealing with copyright trolls. If you would like to consult with me on any issue, please call Racine Olson or write me at dea@racinelaw.net. I offer free initial consultations.