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Business divorces can put trademarks in limbo. Devon Johnson and Latresa Moore launched the fashion and lifestyle magazine, PYNK, in 2011. It only took two years for the team’s relationship to sour. The parting of the ways was not all that simple. Johnson kept the magazine, but hasn’t posted new content for a long time. Moore set up her own ThinkPynk website and a Pynk Magazine Instagram feed. Johnson tried to trademark the word and design mark for “Pynk”. Moore opposed registration saying that she is a co-owner and Johnson can’t register the mark alone. The TTAB granted the opposition. The board said that it wasn’t possible to delineate what intellectual property and assets remained and with whom. Since Johnson could not show that he was the sole owner, he couldn’t register the marks.
WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS. The start of a business is a heady time as the founders launch the new venture. The last thing anyone wants to think about is planning for a split up. But ignoring the possibility shouldn’t be an option. Planning for the worst case scenario seems pessimistic, but it’s just good business. If the parties don’t plan, then like Johnson and Moore, they fight over the spoils when the parties are in an adversarial position. Then everyone loses. Moore will have trouble registering the marks because Johnson can claim joint ownership. Since the parties don’t appear to be getting along, valuable trademarks may be lost to both parties.
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