trademark

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Ukraine Can't Trademark Salty Russian Insult

'Go f--- yourself' is perceived as a political slogan, EU court says

(Newser) - Ukraine's attempt to register the slogan "Russian warship, go f--- yourself" as a trademark has been rejected by the Court of Justice of the European Union. Politico reports that, in a ruling issued Wednesday, the court said registration of the term as an EU trademark has been rejected...

KFC Has Beef With Another Chain Over 'Original Recipe'

Iconic chicken chain sues Church's Texas Chicken over use of the term, not the recipe

(Newser) - The phrase "Our original recipe is back" doesn't seem a likely one to inspire litigation, and yet here we are. As CNN reports, iconic purveyor of all things fried chicken, KFC, has filed a lawsuit against Church's Texas Chicken—not over its swiping of the fast-food holy...

SCOTUS: 'Trump Too Small' Can't Be Trademarked

Ruling on slogan was unanimous but opinions differed

(Newser) - If you want to create merchandise with the slogan "Trump too small," the Supreme Court is not going to stand in your way. In a unanimous ruling issued Tuesday, the court sided with the Biden administration in a trademark case involving the slogan, CNN reports. Steve Elster, a...

'David' Says It Beat 'Goliath' in 'Big Mac' Trademark Fight

Irish rival Supermac's contested McDonald's use of the label for certain items

(Newser) - The decision is about more than burger names, but when it comes to burger names, it's a big one. McDonald's on Wednesday lost a European Union trademark dispute over the Big Mac name after a top EU court sided with Irish fast-food rival Supermac's in a long-running...

In This Case, Biden Administration Looks to Protect Trump

'Trump Too Small' slogan becomes a Supreme Court fight over free speech

(Newser) - President Biden's Justice Department has taken former President Donald Trump to task for his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election . But in another court case, the Biden administration looks "to protect Trump," Reuters reports. The case before the Supreme...

Final Holdout in 'Taco Tuesday' Battle Gives In

Taco Bell gets last restaurant to relinquish its trademark of the phrase

(Newser) - Taco Bell has been trying to ensure the phrase "Taco Tuesday" is available for anyone (including, of course, Taco Bell) to use, and the fast food chain notched a big win in its battle over the trademarking of the phrase back in July, when the chain Taco John's,...

Twitter May Have a Problem With Its Shiny New Logo

Trademark infringement questions arise over news that Meta, Microsoft also have 'X' registered

(Newser) - "X" may not mark the spot after all for Elon Musk in his attempted rebrand of Twitter. Although Musk has officially unveiled the 24th letter of the alphabet as his social media site's new name and identity, Insider reports that rival Meta appears to own the trademark for...

A Weird Fight Over Phrase 'Taco Tuesday' Is Over

Taco John's gives up legal battle against Taco Bell

(Newser) - It was one of the more unusual trademark fights on the books, revolving around the phrase "Taco Tuesday." The chain Taco John's had it trademarked for decades, and the much larger chain Taco Bell filed a formal challenge to the trademark earlier this year, reports the Wall ...

Swiss Apple Growers Not Thrilled With Apple

Farmers group worries it may have to change its century-old logo in trademark battle

(Newser) - Apple the company has been around since 1976. Apple the fruit, a lot longer—which helps explain how a Swiss farmers organization has been using an apple as its logo for 111 years. But as Wired UK explains, perhaps not for much longer. The Fruit Union Suisse is in the...

SCOTUS Agrees to Hear 'Trump Too Small' Case

Man tried to register phrase as trademark

(Newser) - The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an unusual case in which the Biden administration is fighting a man's attempt to trademark a slogan that includes the name Trump. Attorney Steve Elster has been trying for years to trademark "Trump Too Small" for use on T-shirts, Politico reports....

Taco Bell on Trademark War: 'Taco Tuesday' Belongs to All

Fast-food giant asks Patent and Trademark Office to force smaller chain to give up rights to the term

(Newser) - Declaring a mission to liberate "Taco Tuesday" for all, Taco Bell is asking US regulators to force Wyoming-based Taco John's to abandon its long-standing claim to the trademark. Too many businesses and others refer to "Taco Tuesday" for Taco John's to be able to have exclusive...

Katy Perry Loses Katie Perry Trademark Fight

'This is a tale of two women, two teenage dreams and one name'

(Newser) - The Australian fashioner designer who created a line of clothing called Katie Perry has prevailed in what she calls a "David and Goliath" trademark case against Katy Perry. Designer Katie Taylor, who was born Katie Perry, created the label in 2007 and registered the trademark in 2008, the year...

Adidas Objects to Black Lives Matter Logo
Adidas Protests BLM Logo,
Quickly Abandons That
UPDATED
Mar 29, 2023 5:41 AM CDT

Adidas Protests BLM Logo, Quickly Abandons That

Company reverses course fast after claiming 3 yellow stripes too similar to its own

(Newser) - It took all of 48 hours for Adidas to backtrack on its protest of a Black Lives Matter logo. The company announced Wednesday that it would withdraw its opposition to the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation's trademark application "as soon as possible," Reuters reports. Adidas did...

Trademark Office Has Bad News for Meghan

Request to trademark 'Archetypes' is denied

(Newser) - It's a no go: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has been denied her request to trademark "Archetypes," the title of her Spotify podcast. Archewell Audio, the podcast production company launched by Meghan and husband Prince Harry, filed the request to trademark the word as it applies to...

Baghdad's 'Starbucks' Points to Growing Problem in Iraq

Country is a hub for trademark violation, costing companies billions

(Newser) - Everything from the signboard outside down to the napkins bears the official emblem of the top international coffee chain. But in Baghdad, looks are deceiving: The "Starbucks" in the Iraqi capital is unlicensed. Real Starbucks merchandise is imported from neighboring countries to stock the three cafes in the city,...

Sorry, Mariah, You're Not the Only 'Queen of Christmas'

Trademark office denies singer's claim for rights to the phrase

(Newser) - Mariah Carey isn't getting the holiday gift she wanted from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The office on Tuesday denied the singer's request to trademark "Queen of Christmas," after rejecting her applications for "QOC" and "Princess Christmas" earlier this month, per the Washington ...

Troubles Add Up for Truth Social
Snags, Bills
Add Up for
Truth Social
the rundown
Aug 27, 2022 5:40 PM CDT

Snags, Bills Add Up for Truth Social

Partner appears wary of merging with Trump's site

(Newser) - Truth Social, the social media website launched by former President Donald Trump, is up against a series of unsolved issues that could be serious enough to be giving the company that agreed to merge with it cold feet. The issues include:

Fastest Man in the World Wants Ownership of His Victory Pose

Retired sprinter Usain Bolt has filed to trademark signature celebration move to use logo on merch

(Newser) - If you're a famous athlete with the name "Bolt," and you've got a signature victory move that resembles a jagged line of electricity, chances are you're going to make sure you control that likeness. There's only one man this situation currently applies to in...

NBCUniversal Makes a Michael Scott-Level Snafu

Company files suit against 'trademark squatter' that snatched up Dunder Mifflin name before it could

(Newser) - NBCUniversal is suing to ensure no one else gets to sell merch branded with The Office's fictional paper company, Dunder Mifflin. In "a classic Michael Scott-style bungling," the company doesn't actually own the Dunder Mifflin trademark, per AV Club . The company is suing alleged "trademark...

Ohio State Trademarks 'THE' for Merchandise
OSU Wins Trademark
Approval for 'THE'
Jun 23, 2022 12:05 AM CDT

OSU Wins Trademark Approval for 'THE'

Trademark only applies to branded clothing sold through 'customary' channels

(Newser) - While it's still OK to use the word "the" in conversation—and British post-punk band The The probably doesn't have to worry about a lawsuit—Ohio State University has successfully trademarked the most common word in the English language. The US Patent and Trademark Office has approved...

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