I ♡ Trademarks Newsletter Issue #433
Bri Van Til | May 27, 2025
Sign up for Alt Legal’s mildly humorous, pun-filled “I ♡ Trademarks” weekly newsletter to stay current on all things trademarks and IP.
Security!
Starting earlier this month, the USPTO has added new security measures and will contact other correspondents on the record if you’re using a form to abandon an application, cancel a registration, or withdraw the attorney of record.
If you plan to visit or appear before the USPTO, you’ll need a REAL ID. While I’m not an attorney, and therefore can’t offer you legal advice, I wouldn’t recommend you try to use a fake ID for anything anyway.
The Department of Defense has issued a guidebook for DoD-related IP implementation, acquisition, licensing, and more. You can find it here.
Emerging Markets
The EU has listed several countries—including many developing countries—as nations of concern for counterfeit activity.
Ghanaian filmmaker Socrate Safo wants to encourage creatives to pursue legal action, not just go to social media, when their IP is infringed.
Serving clients in emerging markets requires special care. Come to this webinar to learn how to meet these clients’ needs.
For information about trademark registration in specific regions with a lot of developing countries, sign up for this webinar about the Middle East and North Africa, watch this webinar recording about Latin America, and watch this webinar recording about Southeast Asia.
Hey! That’s Mine!
We all know how you get to Carnegie Hall, but do you know how to get Carnegie Hall to sue you? Apparently you use “CARNEGIE” in the name of your restaurant.
Brown University objects to the use of its name in a student newspaper that criticizes the school’s DEI efforts.
The artist who created Ohio’s “I voted” stickers is crying foul about the similarity between them and Louisiana’s recently released stickers.
Professional Concerns
If you’re INTArested in being an officer or board member or want to nominate someone else, apply now.
Coke Florida—the beverage company, not an allusion to the cocaine trade in said state in the ’80s—is looking for counsel.
Applying for this IP counsel position is an Intuitive next step.
I’m guessing you win a lot of cases, so you should apply to be an IP Champion at Wilson Dutra.
When given the opportunity to sit around and play (Scientific) Games, you should take it. Go be their IP and licensing counsel.
Have an open role on your team? Send a link to your job listing to [email protected], and we’ll publish it in our next newsletter.
Odds and Ends
After a series of names and rebranding efforts, HBO Max is coming back. The company seems to have had a blast with the (re-)rebrand on social media.
Ford has soured on its Lemon Law counsel: they’re suing for alleged inflation of legal fees, saying the firm at times billed for over 50 hours in a day.
The USPTO is hosting a roundtable about counterfeits in online marketplaces. Sign up here.
AI technology is taking the place of actors in the latest Fortnite game, and SAG-AFTRA is not happy. This is, of course, one of the concerns that led to the strike in 2023.
In a rare move, five Supreme Court justices recused themselves from hearing a copyright infringement appeal in Baker v. Coates, meaning the Court won’t hear the case.