Kim Kardashian filed trademark applications in March 2023 to protect her eldest daughter’s name for dolls, action figures, and educational toys. Nearly three years later, those applications remain pending at the USPTO, reportedly stalled over a fundamental problem: “North West” sounds like a compass direction. The case illustrates a challenge facing every parent who names … Read more
A German domain registrant moved fast. Netflix’s legal team moved smarter. Three days after the animated film KPop Demon Hunters premiered on Netflix, someone in Germany registered KPopDemonHunters.com. Now, that domain belongs to Netflix after a WIPO panel found the streaming giant had established common law trademark rights before the cybersquatter even clicked “register.” Three … Read more
The catchphrase that launched Matthew McConaughey’s career in 1993’s “Dazed and Confused” now has formal USPTO protection. But the eight trademarks his attorneys secured in December 2025 weren’t filed to sell merchandise or license movie clips. They were filed to sue anyone who uses AI to fake his voice. Eight Trademarks to Fight One Threat … Read more
On January 12, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Vetements Group AG’s petition for certiorari. The denial came without comment, as is typical for the Court. For the Swiss-based fashion label founded by Demna and Guram Gvasalia in 2014, the one-line order ended a five-year fight to trademark its own name in the … Read more
When brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their first restaurant in 1940s California, they could not have imagined that their name would become one of the most protected brands in business history. Today, McDonald’s Corporation holds over 1,739 active US trademarks covering everything from the Golden Arches logo to the jingle describing a Big Mac’s … Read more
When Elon Musk unveiled Tesla’s autonomous “Cybercab” at the company’s “We, Robot” event on October 10, 2024, the announcement made headlines worldwide. But Tesla hadn’t filed a trademark application. Eighteen days later, a French beverage company called Unibev did. Now Tesla’s trademark application sits suspended at the USPTO, and the company that revolutionized the electric … Read more
A Pennsylvania artist who has operated under the name “Atelier Jolie” since 2021 is blocking Angelina Jolie’s USPTO trademark application for her high-profile New York fashion venture. The Opposition That Could Derail a Celebrity Fashion Launch Omnaia Jolie Abdou filed a formal opposition with the USPTO on July 10, 2024, targeting Angelina Jolie’s trademark application … Read more
Taylor Swift is a musician who exploded into national attention when her debut country music album reached the top 5 on the Billboard list in 2006. Since then, she has become a defining figure in the music industry, with a transition from country roots to becoming an iconic pop figure. Her albums are: Aside from … Read more
A billionaire candidate spent $13 million of his own money on a California gubernatorial campaign, then sued a rival for using the same three words. The court’s response exposed the limits of trademark law in politics. The $13 Million Slogan Dispute Stephen Cloobeck, founder of Diamond Resorts International, announced his 2026 California gubernatorial campaign in … Read more
Your logo is more than a piece of design; it is the visual representation of your brand and everything it stands for. It is the flag that your customers rally around, and it serves as the key distinguisher between your business and your competitors.
Donald Trump has built one of the most recognizable personal brands in American history. The 45th and 47th President of the United States first made his name as a New York real estate developer before expanding into casinos, golf courses, hotels, consumer products, entertainment, and most recently, mobile phones and digital goods. DTTM Operations LLC, … Read more
Kellogg’s is one of the most recognized names in the food industry, with a trademark portfolio spanning over a century. Founded by W.K. Kellogg in 1906 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the company transformed breakfast with the invention of corn flakes and went on to build an empire of cereal, snack, and frozen food brands. In … Read more
Nike invented the Total 90 brand in 2000. In 2025, a Louisiana soccer coach is suing them for using it. Hugh Bartlett noticed something interesting in the USPTO database. Nike’s federal trademark registration for TOTAL 90 had been cancelled on April 19, 2019. The athletic giant had failed to file a Section 8 Declaration of … Read more
A Tampa Bay coffee chain just won a four-year battle at the Federal Circuit after the USPTO insisted its name meant “coffee” in Arabic. The Ruling That Changes Foreign Language Trademark Strategy Bayou Grande Coffee Roasting Co. has operated cafés across Tampa Bay under the KAHWA name since 2008. When the company filed to register … Read more
A California surf brand’s $100 million bet against Lady Gaga just crashed on First Amendment rocks. On December 15, 2025, US District Judge Fernando M. Olguin denied Lost Surfboards’ request for a preliminary injunction that would have blocked merchandise sales tied to Lady Gaga’s “Mayhem” album and tour. The ruling landed a significant blow to … Read more
One of rock’s most legendary bands cannot convince the federal government that adding “Experience” to their name creates something new. On December 9, 2025, the USPTO issued its second office action rejecting Led Zeppelin’s trademark application for “THE LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE.” Superhype Tapes Limited, the Jimmy Page-owned company behind the filing, now faces a dual … Read more