商標登録insideNews: Supreme Court to Rule On Two Trademark Litigation Cases Next Term – Maier & Maier

The Supreme Court has granted certiorari to two cases that could have significant impacts on trademark litigation. In Lucky Brands Dungarees, Inc., et al. v. Marcel Fashions, Inc., the Court will address whether new, un-litigated defenses in response to newly asserted claims are permissible with federal preclusion principles. Meanwhile, in Romag Fasteners, Inc. v. Fossil, […]

情報源: Supreme Court to Rule On Two Trademark Litigation Cases Next Term – Maier & Maier – Patent Attorneys

Marcel Fashions Group, Inc. v. Lucky Brand Dungarees, Inc., No. 17-0361 (2d Cir. 2018)

Romag Fasteners, Inc. v. Fossil, Inc.

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商標登録insideNews: US Supreme Court rules trademark rights may survive bankruptcy rejection – JURIST 

US Supreme Court rules trademark rights may survive bankruptcy rejection MAY 20, 2019 02:08:53 PM. The US Supreme Court ruled Monday that if a trademark license would survive a breach outside bankruptcy, it may survive a debtor’s rejection in bankruptcy.The case, Mission Product Holdings, Inc. v. Tempnology, LLC, came about after Tempnology filed for bankruptcy in 2015. Tempnology was licensing its trademarks to Mission Product Holdings for use on athletic apparel. After Tempnology filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Tempnology issued a rejection of the current trademark license agreement, which would ordinarily result in a breach. Tempnology argued that they could no longer maintain quality control over the trademark and as such could not support the continuation of the agreement. Mission Product Holdings filed suit in bankruptcy court to determine whether the breach by Tempnology could in effect revoke their existing trademark rights. Tempnology won the initial case, but it was reversed by the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. The Appellate panel was then reversed by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

情報源: Supreme Court rules trademark rights may survive bankruptcy rejection – JURIST – News – Legal News & Commentary

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シンガポール 最高裁判所 商標_動画(embedded) vol.1

シンガポール最高裁判所 動画

シンガポール最高裁判所 動画
1.Supreme Court Singapore (Corporate Video) 2015, 6:51 

Supreme Court Singapore (Corporate Video) 2015

続きを読む“シンガポール 最高裁判所 商標_動画(embedded) vol.1”

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商標登録insideNews: Supreme Court refuses to hear case questioning Google’s trademark | Ars Technica

The Supreme Court declined Monday to review a petition asserting that the term “google” has become too generic and therefore unqualified for trademark protection.

情報源: Supreme Court refuses to hear case questioning Google’s trademark | Ars Technica

[コメント]米国最高裁判所は、googleが普通名称化したとの争いについて上訴を棄却しています。最高裁が裁量で取り上げる問題ではないと判断したことを意味しております。Websiteのgoogleはgoogle社が提供する検索エンジンとして広く知られていて、google=検索でもありませんので、妥当な決定と言えます。

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商標登録insideNews: Supreme Court asked to nullify the Google trademark | Ars Technica

Is the term “google” too generic and therefore unworthy of its trademark protection? That’s the question before the US Supreme Court. Words like teleprompter, thermos, hoover, aspirin, and videotape were once trademarked. They lost the status after their names became too generic and fell victim to what is known as “genericide.”

情報源: Supreme Court asked to nullify the Google trademark | Ars Technica

[コメント] 日本では、検索するの意味の”ぐぐる”とGoogleは区別されていると思いますが、それが英語になると、動詞と社名の境界がぼやけてしまうということかも知れません。カリフォルニア州の9th Court of Appealでは、普通名称化(genericide)されていないと判断されましたが、今回は最高裁ですので、どうなるかというところです。最高裁は、certiorari(サーシオレイリイ)ですので、聞く聞かないの裁量について数カ月で判断されます。

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商標登録insideNews: 「ルイ・ヴィトン」のパロディーブランド訴訟 最高裁へ│WWD JAPAN

「ルイ・ヴィトン(LOUIS VUITTON)」はロサンゼルスにあるバッグ販売会社「マイ・アザー・バッグ(MY OTHER BAG)」が同ブランドのモノグラムトートをキャンバスバッグにプリントした行為が商標侵害だと主張する一連の訴訟について、2016年12月に下された二審の判決を不服としてアメリカ合衆国最高裁判所に上告した。

情報源: 「ルイ・ヴィトン」のパロディーブランド訴訟 最高裁へ│WWD JAPAN

Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that My Other Bag Inc.’s mimicking of the fashion house’s famous interlocking logo is a parody not subject to a trademark dilution charge ( Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A. v. My Other Bag, Inc. , U.S., No. 17-72, review requested 7/13/17 ).

情報源: Louis Vuitton Asks High Court to Reverse Trademark Parody Ruling | Bloomberg BNA

Here’s an example of an alleged “trademark bully,” one of the world’s most famous fashion brands.

情報源: Bagging A Trademark Bully | Above the Law

コメント:知財系の訴訟は、CAFCが法の番人のように機能する面がありますが、憲法問題である表現の自由(1st Amendment)の争点を盛り込むことで、さらなるフルバックの最高裁(US Supreme Court)での判断も可能となりますので、最後まで戦うとの戦略の場合は、商標や不正競争の訴因に加えて表現の自由が侵害されているとの立場をとることもあります。

Louis Vuitton vs. My Other Bag

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商標登録insideNews: Supreme Court: Rejecting trademarks that ‘disparage’ others violates the First Amendment – The Washington Post

The federal government has violated the First Amendment by refusing to register trademarks that officials consider disparaging, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday in a decision that provides a boost to the Washington Redskins’ efforts to hang on to the team’s controversial name.

情報源: Supreme Court: Rejecting trademarks that ‘disparage’ others violates the First Amendment – The Washington Post

コメント:米国最高裁は表現の自由の観点から、審査官が”軽蔑する”というような判断をすることが違憲としています。NFLのワシントン・レッドスキンズは、長らく先住民を蔑視するチーム名となり得るとして報道されていましたが、そこからは解放されそうです。

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a federal trademark law banning offensive names is unconstitutional, siding with a rock band whose name had been deemed racially disparaging by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

情報源: Supreme Court sides with The Slants, rules ban on offensive names is unconstitutional | Fox News

商標登録insideNews:「アジア人中傷」バンド名(Slants)訴訟、米最高裁へ

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