Is it Safe to Use a "Dead" Trademark?

Cancellation of a trademark registration does not extinguish common law trademark rights. If the owner continues to use the mark after abandonment or cancellation by the USPTO, that owner will still enjoy common law protections allowing for use within the current "zone of commerce." While it may possible to register a canceled or abandoned mark, one should think carefully and research any potentially confusingly similar uses.

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Louis Vitton Doesn't See the Humor

A hand bag company called My Other Bag (MOB) has been engaged in a long legal battle with Louis Vitton. The company claimed that MOB's canvas tote bags depicting images of Louis Vitton bags was an infringing use of their copyrights and trademarks and was diluting their brands. The District Court for the Southern District of New York held that such use amounted to parody and was an acceptable use. The Second Circuit affirmed and the Supreme Court rejected Louis Vitton's appeal.

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Amazon Attempts to Trademark Blue Rings

In July 2016, Amazon submitted an application to trademark the blue rings that encircle the top of their Echo product.  This type of trademark has been granted in the past and will turn on whether the general public associates these cyan rings with the voice-controlled speaker. 

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