Category: Intellectual Property Rights

This case established that color can be registered as a trademark under certain circumstances, emphasizing the importance of non-traditional marks in trademark law.

Adidas has filed a suit against clothing retailer Forever 21, claiming that the retailer's three-stripe design on products constitutes a counterfeit product. Adidas claims it has put millions into branding the three-stripe design and holds numerous patents on it.

The Wrigley Co. wanted to trademark the name “Doublemint,” which seems reasonable enough. But in Europe, it can’t. The ruling against Wrigley stated that the word “Doublemint” lacks an imaginative element. Comparatively, Procter & Gamble succeeded in trademarking "Baby-Dry," showcasing the contrasting outcomes in trademark registration based on the perceived distinctiveness or imaginative aspect of the names in question.

The case was significant because it dealt with the concept of trademark infringement and the likelihood of confusion among consumers, emphasizing the importance of protecting brand identities and trademarks from potential dilution or confusion in the marketplace.

Coach, a luxury handbag maker, filed a lawsuit against Gap's Old Navy unit in a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday, alleging trademark infringement. The lawsuit, brought by Coach and its parent company Tapestry, contends that Gap unlawfully sold T-shirts featuring the word "Coach" without authorization.

The dispute between the Academy Awards and GoDaddy concluded with a court ruling that while GoDaddy allowed the purchase of domains resembling the Oscars trademarks, it was not deemed to be acting in bad faith to profit from these sales. However, the legal battle incurred substantial financial strain on both parties over the five-year period.