Apple vs. Apple Cinemas: When Trademark Expansion Plans Collide with Tech Giant’s Brand Protection

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

Miami Swimwear Brand Takes on Chris Brown and Live Nation Over “Breezy Bowl XX” Tour Name

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

When Big Crypto Meets Small Meme Coins: The Circle vs. Just A Circle Trademark Battle

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

PSU Trademark Infringement: How goPSUrv.com Became Penn State’s Property

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

When Global Giants Attack Local Brands: The Nestlé vs. Seattle Strong Trademark Battle Explained

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

Tyler Perry’s “She The People” Trademark Dispute: A Cautionary Tale for Content Creators

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

When Parody Meets Protection: Lessons from Kellogg’s Battle with L’eggo My Eggroll

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

Trademark Disputes: How Startups Are Fighting The Big Guys

For any business owner, the potential costs associated with a trademark dispute battle can be extremely high. For some startups, the idea of entering into a legal fight over the right to use a mark is simply out of the question due to limited resources. There’s a new trend on the rise that is changing … Read more

Trademark Disputes: Starbucks v. Charbucks

Justice is blind, at least theoretically. Frequently we see big-guy versus little-guy cases end overwhelmingly in favor of the big-guy due to sophisticated legal tactics utilized by teams of lawyers. In the face of such resources, it’s easy to understand why David toppling Goliath was the upset of the millennium. But even with such scenarios, … Read more

Case Study: Brewery Vivant vs. Tired Hands

In this article, we will discuss the trademark conflict between Brewery Vivant, a micro-brewery and producer of “Farmhand” French farmhouse-style ale, and Tired Hands Brewing Company, maker of “Farmhands” Belgian saison style ale. The purpose of this case study is to demonstrate the importance of trademark in a crowded marketplace where strong brand and product … Read more

“Honest” Trademarking: Jessica Alba versus Mommy Blogger

Trademark disputes are inevitable. Every year, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) processes hundreds of thousands of trademarks applications. The fact that the country isn’t currently engulfed in an epidemic of legal trademark disputes is a testament to how efficient the application screening process at the Trademark Office is. Contrary to popular belief, … Read more

Case Study: NY State Department of Economic Development v. Coffee Shop

In the following article, we will outline a trademark infringement case involving a coffee shop and agents for the New York State Department of Economic Development. The purpose of this case study is to help illustrate what can happen to businesses and business owners who neglect to conduct a trademark search before deciding to use … Read more

Case Study: Big Yale v. Tiny Yale

Many business owners fail to take the time to determine whether the name they have chosen for their product or business is actually available for them to legally use. In the following article, we will outline a trademark infringement case involving two educational institutions. The purpose of this case study is to help illustrate what … Read more

5 Nasty Trademark Disputes Featuring Famous Musicians

In the music industry, a name is a more than just a name. It’s a brand. As with any brand, owners will protect their rights at any cost. There’s a tacit significance in crafting a band name because it has the potential to be iconic, like the Ramones or the Beatles. People in bands spend … Read more