News & Events

Date: Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Registration: Click on the link to view Strafford Publication’s details on the Webinar.

Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A., intellectual property attorney and DuetsBlog author Stephen R. Baird is leading a Webinar on the challenges and processes involved in trademarking and protecting non-traditional categories. Steve will be co-presenting with Linda K. McLeod from Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner in Washington, D.C., and Stephen Feingold from Kilpatrick Stockton; both intellectual property attorneys.

 

Click on the link for pricing information.

 

For a full description, click here or read on.

The Webinar is sponsored by the Legal Publishing Group of Strafford Publications.

Traditionally, trademark protection was for marks such as names and logos. However, trademark protection has extended to other categories, such as sight, sound, touch, colors, motions, and more.

 

From the first sound marks obtained by NBC (chimes) and Metro Goldwin Mayer (lion roar) to Chippendales’ recent challenge of the PTO’s refusal to register the company’s apparel configuration for adult entertainment services, non-traditional marks are an important marketing tool.

 

Non-traditional trademarks face hurdles not faced by traditional marks, both in registering and enforcing the marks. It is critical for companies to take the steps to overcome these hurdles so that their marks are protected.

 

This program will discuss the challenges non-traditional marks, strategies for registering non-traditional trademarks, and best practices for enforcing the owner’s rights in the non-traditional mark.

 

I.  Non-traditional marks and challenges faced with each

A.     Sight

B.     Sound

C.     Touch

D.     Single colors

E.      Motion

F.      Hologram

G.     Product packaging

H.     Product configurations

 

II.  Registration of non-traditional marks

A.     Clearing the mark

B.     Functionality test

C.     Acquired distinctiveness

D.     Inherent distinctiveness 

 

III.  Enforcing non-traditional marks

A.     Policing use of marks

B.     Challenge of subjective character of non-traditional mark

C.     Nominative fair use defense

D.     Substantial evidence of non-functionality and secondary meaning

E.      Litigation strategies