43(B)log

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

I’m going to talk briefly about last term’s Jack Daniels case—a trademark infringement and dilution case—as well as Elster, argued last week, in which the Justices appeared inclined to reject a First Amendment challenge to the refusal to register the claimed mark “TRUMP TOO SMALL” for t-shirts. Trademark: In Jack Daniel’s v.

False Advertising 75

False Advertising Advertising Advertising Trademark 75

43(B)log

FEBRUARY 3, 2023

Rierson, Trademark Law and the Creep of Legal Formalism Various rules w/in TM law have been codified that we seem to be treating more as formalistic labels or bright line rules when a more practical approach is preferable in TM context instead of leaning on labels. I don’t think that’s true either. 3) Functionality.

False Advertising 45

False Advertising Trademark Advertising Advertising 45

43(B)log

OCTOBER 4, 2021

Another way to put it is that aesthetic functionality requires you to have an understanding of the definition of the market in which other clothing makers should be free to compete. This analysis does make some sense, but raises the question of what the how to identify what counts as a “significant” disadvantage.

IP 94

IP Trademark Advertising Advertising 94

SpicyIP

DECEMBER 30, 2023

The Court held that “diagnostic” under Section 3(i) should neither be construed narrowly, limited to only in-vivo or definitive diagnosis, nor broadly to include any process “relating to” diagnosis. The central issue here was whether Section 3(i) is restricted to only in vivo tests practices on the human body. Bolt Technology v.

IP 124

IP Copyright Trademark Intellectual Property 124