News & Analysis as of

Trade Dress

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

L'eggo My Rights: Parody or Trademark Violation?

In another in a long line of trademark imitation cases, Kellogg North America Co. LLC has filed a trademark and trade dress infringement lawsuit against a small Ohio-based food truck named L’eggo My Eggroll, arguing that the...more

Clark Hill PLC

Surprise, Surprise: The “Sad Beige Lawsuit” ends

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The high-profile “Sad Beige Lawsuit” has ended between two prominent social media influencers, which begged the question, can you protect a personal “aesthetic” or “vibe?” On May 28, influencer Sydney Nicole Gifford...more

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Gone from Copyright: Ninth Circuit Rejects Copyright Protection for Iconic “Eleanor” Shelby Mustang

Court Narrows Scope of Character Copyright, Drawing Sharp Line Between Props and Protectable Expression - Not every film icon gets legal protection. On May 27, 2025, the Ninth Circuit ruled that Eleanor—the legendary Mustang...more

Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

Diversifying Your IP Strategy: Key Tactics for a Well-Rounded Portfolio

In today’s competitive and innovation-driven economy, protecting intellectual property (IP) is no longer just about securing utility patents. A well-rounded IP strategy that incorporates multiple forms of IP, such as trade...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

MGA Entertainment v. Harris: Despite $71M Judgment, Federal Court Declines to Enjoin Trade Dress Infringement, Revealing Limits to...

On April 15, 2025, after jurors found a line of dolls from the toymaker, MGA Entertainment, Inc. (“MGA”), infringed the trade dress rights of a pop group owned by music artists Clifford "T.I." Harris and Tameka "Tiny" Harris,...more

International Lawyers Network

Different Kinds of Cool That Still Just Don’t Register: Why Birkenstocks & Melted Rink Ice (AKA Water) Aren’t Copyrightable

In 2015, the Wall Street Journal observed why Birkenstock sandals might be considered cool: “It’s a taboo thing,” said New York-based stylist Brian Coats, who dresses Jimmy Fallon....more

McDermott Will & Emery

RAW Confusion? No Error Where Trial Court Declines to Clarify Agreed Jury Instruction

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s jury verdict that found trade dress infringement and liability under state deceptive practices law, and the court’s order entering a nationwide...more

ArentFox Schiff

It’s Not Easy Being Green (If You Are a Color Trademark for Medical Gloves)

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In refusing registration of the color green for “chloroprene medical examination gloves,” the Federal Circuit adopted — for the first time — a legal test for genericness of color marks. The decision underscores the high...more

Jones Day

Gloves Off: Court Says No to Green Trademark Protection

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that the test for determining whether a word mark is generic also applies to color marks....more

American Conference Institute (ACI)

[Event] 23rd Advanced Summit on Life Sciences Patents - May 19th - 20th, New York, NY

At ACI’s 23rd Advanced Summit on Life Sciences Patents, you can expect informational overviews and thorough discussion of every facet of the industry. In a time of major legislative, regulatory, and judicial change, you can't...more

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP

To Threat or Not to Threat, That is the DJ Question: Judge Rakoff Dismisses DJ Action and Finds the Court Does Not Have...

On April 1, 2025, United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff granted Defendants Marut Enterprises LLC and Brett Marut’s (collectively, “Defendants”) motion to dismiss and entered final judgment against Foto Electric Supply...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

What Were the Cooler Wars? (Part 2) — No Infringement Intended Podcast

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In this episode, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close delve back into the ongoing legal battle known as the "Cooler Wars" between YETI and RTIC. In Part 2, they discuss the various intellectual property strategies YETI employed to...more

ArentFox Schiff

Ford Rears Bronco Head Against Vintage Modern for Trademark Infringement, False Advertising, and Unfair Competition

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Ford is seeking to stop an aftermarket restoration company from the alleged unauthorized use of the Bronco trademark and trade dress in connection with the rebuild of modern Ford Broncos. The case raises questions of whether...more

Knobbe Martens

Traffix Jam – Technical Functionality Prevents Trademark Protection for the Color Pink

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CERAMTEC GMBH v. COORSTEK BIOCERAMICS LLC - Before Lourie, Taranto, and Stark.  Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. A utility patent may still be considered strong...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Shoe Dupes Walk a Fine Line After Recent IP Infringement Case

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Dupes of original branded items present significant intellectual property (IP) challenges in the fashion industry. Not all fashion products are entitled to IP protection and perceived similarities between products do not...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Beyond Utility: How to Protect Corporate Value with Design Patents

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Utility patent protection is typically the first thing that comes to mind for protecting a product; however, such protection may not be available when the product has been on the market a long time or is dominated by...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

Trade Dress Disputes Continue To Be a Bitter Pill in Pharma

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A recent federal court decision highlights the delicate balance between U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance and trade dress protections for drugs administered in a tablet or capsule form. Last month, a district...more

Irwin IP LLP

Revving Up The Trade Dress Standard: Articulation First 

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Cardinal Motors, Inc. v. H&H Sports Protection USA Inc., No. 23-cv-7586 (2d Cir. Feb. 6, 2025) - On February 6, 2025, the Second Circuit held that the “articulation requirement” for a trade dress complaint—a pleading...more

K&L Gates LLP

Make Protecting Your UK and EU Product Packaging and Labels Your New Year’s IP Resolution. Part 2: Combatting Dupes and Copycats...

K&L Gates LLP on

Everybody knows that trade marks are necessary to protect a brand’s logo and name, and a lot of people know that registered designs are a powerful tool in stopping counterfeit goods, but did you know these rights can also be...more

Fenwick & West LLP

Dupe or Deception? What e.l.f.’s Win Over Benefit Means for Beauty Brands

Fenwick & West LLP on

The battle over beauty “dupes” just got more interesting. In a major win for e.l.f. Cosmetics, a California federal judge ruled that its Lash ’N Roll mascara doesn’t infringe the trademarks and trade dress of Benefit...more

Troutman Pepper Locke

What Were the Cooler Wars? (Part 1) — No Infringement Intended Podcast

Troutman Pepper Locke on

In this episode, Austin Padgett and Rusty Close delve into the intellectual property battle between cooler giants YETI and RTIC. They explore how YETI created a lifestyle brand of coolers and drinkware, and how RTIC brazenly...more

ArentFox Schiff

Design Disputes: Unraveling the Tapestry of Legal Trends for Litigation in the Furniture and Design Worlds

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In the fast-paced and competitive world of furniture and design, where partnerships and innovations flourish, but consumers’ attention is increasingly divided, legal disputes are increasingly common....more

Venable LLP

About Time! Steps You Should Consider to Protect Your Watch-Related Brand

Venable LLP on

As major watch industry events are fast approaching in 2025, it may be time for businesses to reevaluate or add to the tools at their disposal to protect and expand their watch-related brand. ...more

Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC

Trade Dress Registration – Practical Considerations for Product Manufacturers

Summary Trade dress is a powerful intellectual property (IP) tool that can be used to protect the distinctive non-functional “look and feel" of a product’s design, shape and/or 3D configuration.[1] Product manufacturers and...more

Venable LLP

Out of the Doghouse? Jack Daniel's Marks Tarnished but Not Infringed by Bad Spaniels Toy

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On January 23, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona issued a final decision ending the intensely disputed, decade-long litigation between Jack Daniel's Properties, Inc. and VIP Products LLC....more

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