Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Settlement Reached In Long-Standing Trademark Dispute Between Gibson Guitar And Heritage Guitars
Music is one of the most important industries in the United States—and branding matters. Recently, two of the most famous guitar brands—Gibson and Heritage—reached a settlement in a long-standing trademark lawsuit. According to a report from Digital Music News, the confidential settlement will allow both companies to move forward. Here, our Florida trademark lawyer… Read More »
Someone Opposed My Trademark Registration—What Happens Now?
Trademark registrations are on the rise. According to data from Statista, there are now more than one million trademark filings in the United States each year. Did you or your business recently file a trademark application only to be hit with an opposition from another party? It is crucial that you have the knowledge,… Read More »
Coca-Cola Prevails In False Advertising Lawsuit—Court Finds Claim “Too Aspirational”
According to a report from Mondaq, Coca-Cola has prevailed in a false advertising lawsuit. The corporate giant was facing a false advertising claim from Earth Island Institute—a San Francisco based non-profit organization—on the grounds that the company’s sustainability claims were misleading. Within this blog post, our Florida unfair competition attorney provides a more detailed… Read More »
Being Sued For Trademark Infringement? Four Mistakes To Avoid
A trademark is one of the most important types of intellectual property. As described by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), a trademark holder has the right to bring an infringement claim against a party engaged in “unauthorized use” of a protected service mark in a manner that is “likely to cause… Read More »
United States Navy Will Pay Technology Company More Than $150,000 For Copyright Violations
According to a report from Gizmodo, the United States Navy will pay approximately $154,000 in damages to resolve a copyright infringement lawsuit. Bitmanagement Software GmbH—a software company headquartered in Germany—originally sued the U.S. Navy for copyright violations in 2016. The company alleged that the Navy installed its copyright protected software on several hundred thousand… Read More »
What Is The Geographical Reach Of The Lanham Act? The Supreme Court Is Set To Decide
On November 4th, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States announced the granting of a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the case of Abitron Austria GmbH et al. v. Hetronic International Inc—a controversy over the geographical reach of the Lanham Act. Here, our Florida intellectual property lawyer provides an overview of… Read More »
Viacom Prevails In Trademark Dispute Over Floribama Shore
According to a report from Reuters, Viacom has prevailed in an appeal in a trademark dispute over the term “Floribama Shore.” The company, which owns the MTV reality show by that name, had been accused of improperly copying the term from a Florida-based bar and concert venue. Here our Florida trademark infringement lawyer discusses… Read More »
NFL’s Commanders Unveil New Mascot, Setting Up Trademark Lawsuit
According to a report from Front Office Sports, the NFL’s Washington Commanders unveiled their new mascot at the January game against the Cleveland Browns. The team changed its name from its temporary moniker the “Washington Football Team” to the “Washington Commanders” during the most recent off season. However, the new mascot is expected to… Read More »
Key NFT Copyright Case Making Its Way Through Legal System—Counterclaim Filed
According to reporting from Blockworks, Yuga Labs is at the center of a copyright dispute involving non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It is an important legal battle because it could set the terms for how NFTs are handled under U.S. copyright law. Artist Ryder Ripps—who is being sued by Yuga Labs for copyright infringement—has filed a… Read More »
Patent Battle Over COVID-19 Vaccine Continues Into 2023
According to a report from Reuters, the patent battle over the COVID-19 vaccine will continue into 2023. Moderna has sued Pfizer and BioNTech for a purported breach of three of its patents related to the development of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Not only is this a high-dollar IP dispute, it has important implications for… Read More »