Imagine spending five years building a successful podcast brand around your own first name, only to have a toy company tell you that you can’t register it as a trademark. That’s exactly what’s happening to a DC podcaster in a legal battle that raises questions about corporate trademark power, common personal names, and how far … Read more
When a North Carolina coastal pool company thought it could sidestep a trademark dispute through legal maneuvering, a federal judge had other plans. On September 18, 2025, an Outer Banks-area pool and spa service provider learned that escaping trademark litigation isn’t as simple as filing the right motion. North Carolina’s Eastern District delivered a clear … Read more
A World Intellectual Property Organization panelist recently discovered forged U.S. trademark documents in what was called “one of the most egregious” reverse domain name hijacking cases on record. The shocking revelation came during proceedings between AK Associates, LLC and Alina Chung against the owner of ChafeZero.com. In my extensive trademark practice, having filed over 6,000 … Read more
Genki’s September 9, 2025 settlement with Nintendo proves that trademark gambles during major product launches carry million-dollar consequences. The accessory maker’s CES 2025 stunt – showcasing unauthorized Switch 2 mockups just days before Nintendo’s official reveal – ended with confidential damages and permanent restrictions on the company’s future marketing. As someone who has filed over … Read more
In my two decades of trademark practice, I’ve witnessed countless David vs. Goliath disputes, but few as fascinating as the legal battle that erupted in late August 2025. Ex Populus, the company behind Ethereum gaming network Xai, filed a federal trademark infringement lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI in the Northern District of … Read more
Celebrity trademark disputes rarely reach the personal and high-stakes level seen in singer Apollonia’s lawsuit against the Prince Estate, reportedly filed on August 20, 2025. This case strikes at the heart of celebrity brand protection, raising questions about name rights, creative collaboration, and posthumous trademark management that extend far beyond the music industry. In my … Read more
Utah’s newest NHL franchise has thrown down the legal gauntlet. On August 5, 2025, the team filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Mammoth Hockey, LLC, an Oregon-based manufacturer of hockey equipment bags. The dispute centers on exclusive rights to use the “Mammoth” name in sports-related business. This case represents more than just a name dispute … Read more
Apple Inc. filed a federal lawsuit in Massachusetts on August 1, 2025, against Apple Cinemas, marking another chapter in the ongoing battle between established brands and emerging businesses that share similar names. This case offers valuable insights into trademark law, brand protection strategies, and the critical timing decisions that can make or break a business … Read more
Chris Brown’s highly anticipated “Breezy Bowl XX” tour launched in Miami on July 30, 2025, but the celebration was overshadowed by a federal trademark lawsuit filed the same day. Breezy Swimwear, a Miami-based company championing female empowerment, claims the R&B superstar and concert giant Live Nation are using their established trademark without permission. This case … Read more
Picture this: a $50 billion stablecoin giant squares off against a quirky memecoin worth less than half a million dollars. What’s the smaller player’s defense? “We are literally just a circle.” Welcome to the latest trademark dispute shaking the cryptocurrency world, where Circle Internet Group has taken legal action against the memecoin “Just A Circle” … Read more
Federal Judge Louis L. Stanton delivered a swift blow to rapper T.I.’s latest film project on July 9, 2025, barring him from using the title “Situationships” for his upcoming comedy. The preliminary injunction came just months after T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris celebrated a $71 million victory in their own intellectual property lawsuit … Read more
When Keystone Alternatives chose “goPSUrv.com” as their domain name, they thought they’d found the perfect way to target Penn State football fans looking for RV rentals. Six years later, they’re handing over that domain to the university, destroying all their marketing materials, and admitting to willful trademark infringement. Here’s how a seemingly clever business decision … Read more
In April 2025, a trademark dispute erupted that perfectly illustrates the David vs. Goliath battles small businesses face in protecting their brand identity. Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company, filed a petition asking the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the trademark registration of Seattle Strong, a cold brew company that started … Read more
Even a $6.5 billion deal between tech giants can be brought to a halt by a trademark dispute. OpenAI and legendary (former) Apple designer Jony Ive just learned this lesson the hard way when a federal judge ordered them to stop marketing their new AI hardware venture due to trademark infringement claims from a competing … Read more
The entertainment industry was recently shaken by a high-profile trademark infringement lawsuit that demonstrates how even established creators can find themselves in costly legal disputes when proper trademark protections aren’t secured. Tyler Perry, along with Netflix and actress Terri J. Vaughn, faces a federal lawsuit over the title and content of their 2025 comedy series … Read more
What started as a clever pun for an Ohio food truck has become a federal trademark battlefield that every business owner should understand. On June 3, 2025, Kellogg North America Co. LLC filed a comprehensive trademark lawsuit against a small hibachi operation called “L’eggo My Eggroll,” transforming what might have seemed like harmless wordplay into … Read more