Trademark

In Brief:  Monster Energy couldn’t stop a Mad Monster Party. Here’s What Happened:   Monster Beverage Corporation, the maker of the Monster Energy drink, is a good example of extreme trademark enforcement. It is a well-known litigant both in the U.S. courts, before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and in courts all over the […]

In Brief:  Tacking is a very limited way to extend the protection of a trademark. Here’s What Happened:   In 1968, The Beatles’ recording company, Apple Corp. registered the trademark “Apple Music” for “gramophone records featuring music”. Apple Inc. purchased the mark from Apple Corp. In 2015, Apple Inc. applied to register “Apple Music” for […]

In Brief:  A popular catch phrase can become someone’s trademark. Here’s What Happened: Melissa Viviane Jefferson is better known by her stage name Lizzo. Lizzo’s limited liability company, Lizzo LLC filed several trademark applications for the phrase “100% THAT BITCH” as used for a variety of goods and services, including wearing apparel. The USPTO refused […]