I ♡ Trademarks NewsletterIssue #474
Bri Van Til | March 31, 2026
Sign up for Alt Legal’s mildly humorous, pun-filled “I ♡ Trademarks” weekly newsletter to stay current on all things trademarks and IP.
Building Blocks
Breaking down similarity, likelihood of confusion, and commercial impression in clear, client-friendly terms, this piece highlights real-world examples where even major brands have failed in opposition proceedings.
Reddit wanted to block this application in Singapore, but the adjudicator wasn’t REDDIO accept their arguments, so the mark proceeded.
Cannabis company JLT Imports is asking the USPTO to cancel the LOST MARY trademarks, which are blocking JLT’s application for LOST THC. They allege that the products are prohibited by the FDA.
A judge has said no to NCAA’s restraining order to block DraftKings from using its MARCH MADNESS trademarks, though the NCAA could still prevail in the larger trademark infringement case. For now, DraftKings appears to be gambling that it’ll all be okay.
I Can’t Fight This Filing
The Delaware District Court will decide whether there’s sufficient likelihood of confusion between CINEMAVAULT and CINEVAULT. I’d guess any confusion was through no vault of their own.
If you do any litigation work, this update to privilege planning could be relevant for you.
A competing showgirl takes issue with Taylor Swift’s LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL: her lawsuit alleges that Swift should’ve stopped using the mark after receiving an office action for the trademark application. And this, my friends, is a great example of how §2(d) watch can be relevant!
Might AI-generated brands lead to a wave of trademark litigation?
According to a jury, Impossible Foods “willfully and maliciously” infringed the trademarks of a fitness influencer. They tried to defend against the claim, but, well, they just couldn’t do it.
TeeMs
A Long Island distillery wants LIV Golf to stop using LIV in connection with alcohol, claiming the use is causing “widespread confusion amongst customers.” You can’t fault them for trying it. They wanted to LIV on the edge.
Jack Nicklaus’s NIL rights were sold for over $35 million in a bankruptcy settlement. They seem to have struck Gold(en Bear).
Puma objected to a logo mark Tiger Woods-backed company Sun Day Red applied to register in Singapore, but the marks were found to be sufficiently distinct.
Professional Concerns
It’s all fun and Games (Workshop) as this company’s brand protection assistant.
Go to the NorthFace of this listing to apply to be a senior IP paralegal at VF Corporation.
There are Bradley any reasons at all not to apply for this IP paralegal gig.
It’s o-Fish-al: this firm is looking for an IDS patent paralegal.
Have an open role on your team? Email us at [email protected], and we’ll try to get it in our next newsletter!
Odds & Ends
Yet again, attorneys are in trouble for citing fake citations.
There’s no real IP issue here to speak of, but social media companies are in hot water for making their products too addictive.
Apparently 98% of the value of companies like Apple and Nvidia basically boils down to IP. So, like, can we get the products themselves for free?
SCOTUS says that Cox isn’t liable for its customers’ copyright infringement.