Blogs
Puzzle Pieces
by evansfox | Feb 1, 2018 | General Business, Tips For the Entrepreneur
by Eric Tyira As an education junkie and a JOATMON (Jack Of All Trades Master Of None), life is never simple or easy. Some say life is nothing but a series of decisions and as Rush wrote, "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Encircled...
Sonic opposed Dogfish Head’s signature cocktail trademark
by evansfox | Jan 28, 2018 | General Business, Restaurants & Bar, Trademark
Sonic Drive-In opposed Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Inc.’s federal trademark application to register a "prohibition-inspired cocktail" branded "Sonic Archeology." The signature cocktail made from Dogfish Head spirits is sold in its branded restaurants. “Sonic” is...
Yes, you can sell the same beer under more than one brand name and other trademark lessons
by evansfox | Jan 27, 2018 | Brewery & Cidery, Tips For the Entrepreneur, Trademark
One of the ways to resolve a trademark dispute is to agree to sell a product under a different brand name in a territory where a competitor is using the same or a confusingly similar name. This can happen when companies rely on common law trademark rather than federal...
IP Community criticizes USPTO appeals fee rules in a brief submitted to the court before March hearing
by evansfox | Jan 26, 2018 | Uncategorized
In 2013, the USPTO instituted a new fee rule that IP Owners group including Apple, Johnson & Johnson and Google call “crippling.” The rule itself isn’t new, but the interpretation of the law is. The law requires applicants that appeal de novo (a new review by...
The nation of Iceland is protecting its trademark identity
by evansfox | Jan 25, 2018 | Trademark
An application for "I ' celand" filed by Cosmica Cia. Ltda., an Ecuadorian company seeking to register the name for a line of vodka was opposed by the nation of Iceland on the basis that "The word 'I ' celand' denotes someone or something from Iceland [and] the public...
Another restaurant and retail store chain sued for website ADA violations
by evansfox | Jan 25, 2018 | Restaurants & Bar
Maria Mendizabal has sued Burger King and Morton Williams grocery store chains for ADA violations of the company’s website, alleging that she was prevented from gaining information such as store locations, hours and pricing. She claims the websites are not properly...
How will the government shutdown impact your TTB applications for licenses, permits, label approvals and other agency operations?
by evansfox | Jan 22, 2018 | Government, Patent, Retail Liquor License
The TTB is non-essential and will not operate to process permits, labels and other things filed. Those who work with the TTB (federal liquor licensing and label approvals) should plan for delays. However, there are no extensions automatically given. Things with...
How will the government shutdown impact your patent and trademark applications?
by evansfox | Jan 22, 2018 | Government
The USPTO has officially announced that it has reserve funding from the fees it collects that will allow it to remain open and functioning “as usual” for a few weeks. The announcement is not specific as to how long it can remain open and does acknowledge that it will...
Splenda does more “sting” operations against restaurants that sell a lot of coffee
by evansfox | Jan 22, 2018 | Restaurants & Bar
Heartland Consumer Products, owner of the Splenda brand, hired undercover private investigators to pose as customers at Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants and determine whether the restaurant chains were falsely identifying the artificial sweetener they were handing out...
Thoughts on the impact of the prediction that 50% of US will be Up For Sale in the next few years
by evansfox | Jan 19, 2018 | Buying/Selling a Business, Wineries
I have read in several places that industry insiders believe about half of the US wineries will be up for sale within 5 years. The prediction came from Rob McMillan in the State of the Wine Industry newsletter and was based on a survey of more than 350 Napa Valley...
Ready For Legal Assistance?
We are ready to provide you with the legal assistance you deserve. Contact us now to get started.