Trademark Law Briefs

a summary of recent 9th Circuit trademark decisions

Have an opinion about the case? Your comments are welcome!

Laches and prejudice

March 24th, 2009

Internet Specialties West, Inc. v. Milon-Digiorgio Enterprises 2009 US App. LEXIS 5454 (March 17, 2009)

Ruling: Laches runs from when the plaintiff knew, or should have known, about the likelihood of confusion between domain names- which means being aware of potential conflict.  A plaintiff cannot wait for the evidence of actual conflict.  However, for a successful laches defense, the defendant must still show prejudice from the delay which means not just that its business has grown but that it has invested in the actual brand identity of the mark.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Laches | No Comments »

Generic business names can be protected by California unfair competition laws

March 19th, 2009

Curren  v. San Diego Painting, 2009 Cal. App. Unpub. LEXIS 1856
March 4, 2009
California
Court of Appeal, Fourth District, 1st Division

Ruling: Trial Court did not err by granting a permanent injunction preventing plaintiff from using the geographically generic trade name “San Diego Painting” under California unfair competition law based on Defendant’s showing of secondary meaning.  (Unpublished Opinion) Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in California law, Genericism, secondary meaning | No Comments »

Court of Appeals limits on in-term noncompetes in licensing agreements

February 26th, 2009

Comedy Club, Inc.  v. Improv West Associates, 2009 US App. LEXIS 1634

Ruling: An in-term non-competition clause in a trademark licensing agreement can only bind parties to the contract and those persons in active concert or participation with them and can only be enforced in the geographical area where the licensee operates under the licensor’s name.  Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Licensing, non-competition clause
Posted in Licensing | No Comments »

Forgive the absence!

February 24th, 2009

I apologize for the recent lack of posts.  An inactive blog isn’t terribly interesting!  Here’s the deal- in November, we welcomed our second bundle of joy into the world.  Since my husband and I run a law office together, and since our first bundle (of something) has just entered her terrible twos, you can imagine how thin I’ve been stretched. 

Perhaps I should have delegated the writing to someone else for a few months.  Alas, I’m a control freak (how many lawyers do you know who aren’t?).  So instead, there’s been a gap in posts.   But the new mommy excuse sounds less and less plausible as the months creep by, so it’s time for me to start posting again.  I hope you enjoy the new briefs.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

OSC Regarding Licensing Agreement Venue Provision

July 28th, 2008

Hardy Life, LLC v. Nervous Tattoo, Inc., et al., 2008 US Dist. LEXIS 53934

Ruling: Plaintiff ordered to show cause why action should not be dismissed for improper venue and all discovery was stayed until such issue is resolved. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Discovery | No Comments »

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