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California Trademark Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Trademark and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I would like to create Mach 1 merchandise and certificates. I would like to use the nameplate, images, how do I do this?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 19, 2023

The Mach 1 nameplate and images are likely protected by trademark and/or copyright law, so you would need to obtain permission from the owner of those rights before using them for your merchandise and certificates.

In this case, the owner of the Mach 1 nameplate and images is likely Ford...
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1 Answer | Asked in Trademark and Copyright for California on
Q: Can I use trademarks in book content?

I want to write a book about "iconic cars in history" can I use car brand, models and their pictures inside my book?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 4, 2023

It is possible to use trademarks in book content, including brand names and model names, as long as you are using them in an editorial or descriptive manner to refer to the products themselves. However, you should be aware of the limitations of trademark law.

In general, using a trademark...
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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Trademark for California on
Q: I would like to use "Sous Le Soleil" as a brand, i saw that "Sous Le Soleil Exactement" was trademarked but abandoned.

Could I use that brand name anyways or no?

Evelyn Suero
Evelyn Suero
answered on Mar 1, 2023

An abandoned trademark application or registration does not necessarily mean that the trademark (or a similar trademark) is no longer in use by the registrant, or by some other user who has not registered yet. These users may still have common law rights against infringement. Working with a... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Immigration Law, Business Law and Trademark for California on
Q: I'm an Undocumented. Am I able to Apply for LLC to start a business to hire a Documented person or not ??

I am an former Afghan official, Due to the situation in Afghanistan came to the US via Mexican border with illegal entry, but have paroled via Department of Homeland Security that expired and applied for renewal.

Now i have the financial Ability to start a business, am i able to get an LLC... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

As an undocumented person, you may be able to apply for an LLC and start a business in the United States, as there is no citizenship requirement for owning or operating a business. However, you may encounter challenges related to licensing, permits, and other legal requirements.

When it...
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3 Answers | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: How do I register a trademark for my services. Can I apply for the "Dog Diva"

I need the steps.

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Feb 19, 2023

There is not currently a federal registration or application to register DOG DIVA for any services, but there are two registrations with the words DIVA DOG which might be considered "confusingly similar" depending on the nature of the services you provide.

DOG TALK DIVA DOG...
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1 Answer | Asked in Trademark and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: I would like to trademark “MAMA’GER” what is the cost to do this ?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

The cost to register a trademark for "MAMA'GER" will depend on several factors, including the type of trademark application you file and whether you use an attorney to help you with the process.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers different types of...
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3 Answers | Asked in Trademark and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: Can I get a trademark on an item if it expires with the previous owner

If they forget to keep up on their retrademark can I slide in and own the design?

Felicia Altman
Felicia Altman
answered on Feb 13, 2023

If a trademark expires and it is no longer registered with the USPTO a new application can be filed for the same mark and granted by the USPTO. Generally, the USPTO gives a 6 month grace period to a mark before marking it as abandoned by the owner.

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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Patents (Intellectual Property) and Trademark for California on
Q: I have a superhero who is a literal archangel would I still be infringing on Marvel's archangel?

They have the same name: archangel. They both superheroes. They have a similar look (human with wings... Like an angel). But that's it.

The story is radically different. Marvel's archangel is a mutant originally called angel until his wings are replaced by mechanical wings. That... View More

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Jan 25, 2023

This is more of a trademark issue than copyright, unless the image of your character is identical to the Marvel character.

ARCHANGEL was a registered trademark of Marvel in 1994 for comic books, but that registration was cancelled in 2005 for failure to file a statement of continuing use....
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1 Answer | Asked in Legal Malpractice and Trademark for California on
Q: Do I need to register my virtual law firm?

I am licensed in Georgia but I will be using my "law firm" solely to file trademark applications for clients. Do I need to register my law firm (LLC, PC, etc.) or can I operate as is?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

If you are not physically located in California and do not maintain a physical presence in California, you may not need to register your virtual law firm with the California State Bar or comply with California's registration and disclosure requirements for law firms. However, if you intend to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Trademark and Business Law for California on
Q: Do I need to register my virtual law firm?

I am licensed in Georgia but I will be using my "law firm" solely to file trademark applications for clients. Do I need to register my law firm (LLC, PC, etc.) or can I operate as is?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 20, 2023

If you plan to operate your virtual law firm from California, you may need to register with the California State Bar as a foreign legal consultant or form a professional corporation (PC) or professional limited liability company (PLLC) in California. The specific requirements may depend on the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Trademark and Business Law for California on
Q: I want to get bought out of a company but if I can’t would it be appropriate to file a company trademark under my name

Trying to get bought out of my position, but if I can’t, would it be a good idea to file the business’s trademark under my name as leverage?

Robert E. Wasserman
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answered on Jan 13, 2023

Short answer: No.

Under 15 U.S. Code Section 1051:

(1)A person who has a *bona fide intention*, under circumstances showing the *good faith* of such person, to use a trademark in commerce may request registration of its trademark on the principal register hereby established by...
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1 Answer | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: I am being sued for trademark infringement, although I have not been served yet. But the case # is 4:2022cv0416.

How can I find out the details of the case, and he supposed infringement?

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Dec 1, 2022

Checking all four federal district courts in California, this case number shows up as "sealed" which is quite extraordinary for a trademark case. Consequently, no further information is available. Perhaps you have the wrong case number. If you contact me, perhaps we can search for the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: Could I call a brand 'Mario & Peach' or would that infringe on Nintendo's trademarks for Mario and Princess Peach?

I would not use their likeness as part of the branding—just the names

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Nov 15, 2022

Depends on the various other details and circumstances such as country in which trademark will be applied for, similarity of goods or services, validity of competitors trademarks.

But the fact that the brand sounds or looks similar to the older trademark does not itself state that you can...
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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for California on
Q: Trademarks vs. copyrights?

Trademarks vs. copyrights? I have a business where I create websites and apps. I am not inventing anything new just adding a different take on already existing products. For example, I am doing a mindfulness app for kids. Do I need to trademark everything I do or can I just copyright my work?

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Nov 12, 2022

Most businesses do at least "bare minimum" in case of trademarking and that means that they try to trademark at least their main business name and their main product name. Even though copyright protection might extend to some of your business outputs, it does not offer you the trademark... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: if i register a trademark, am i able to obtain the .com domain for the trademarked word?

there are a few names i am considering for my brand. however, for all of the names i am interested in, the corresponding .com domains are either: in use, in use but forwarded to a different URL, or parked and available for sale at $5k.

I am wondering if i have a registered trademark for... View More

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Nov 11, 2022

This will not be possible as the domain name registrator would have time priority (he registered his domain sooner than you have registered your trademark) against your trademark even if you succesfuly register your trademark in pertinent jurisdiction. So it is highly recommended to choose... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: Should I still try and file this trademark? Or is it just a waste of time and money?

Hi I want to file a trademark for my business name, but a company already owns the "Word Mark" very similar to it.

For example. My company is called "Fitness Training AI" - which is a fitness training company built around AI and machine learning. However, there is a... View More

Benjamin Charles Korray
Benjamin Charles Korray
answered on Nov 8, 2022

The trademark filing system is divided into Classes (groups of goods and services). It’s possible that the already registered mark may be in a different Class from yours, which could make it possible for your mark to co-exist with that registration. However, my recommendation would be to use do a... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: If I make [shirts] with entertainers name/image, how do I get permission sale the products??
Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Oct 30, 2022

The most common way to obtain the permission from the person is to write him an official email/letter in which you ask for such permission. You should always seek for written permission (at least in the form of email) for future referrence and eventual disputes.

2 Answers | Asked in Trademark and Intellectual Property for California on
Q: How much does it cost to establish a trademark? Does it vary state to state? I live in California.

I want to trademark my brand name which I wish to sell products under.

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Oct 22, 2022

Yes, every country has different pricing. If you want to have trademark in USA, then the price will be different than if you want to have trademark both in USA and European Union. For exact list of charges you can check the local industrial property office (USPTO in USA and EUIPO in EU, for... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for California on
Q: Can I get my handmade wire wrapped jewelry art protected by design by copyright or trademark
Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Sep 29, 2022

In most cases, you can use all of them to get maximum protection. Each of these protect something different. At first you should perform trademark/design search to make sure there are no-conflicting prior rights and then decide what strategy suits you best.

If you need any further advice...
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2 Answers | Asked in Trademark for California on
Q: If my name is a trademarked company's name am I in trouble for making an application with my name as the author on it?

Let's say my legal name is Amazon. If I make an online store that says by Amazon, am I legally screwed?

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Sep 28, 2022

Trademark rights are different than rights arising from your business name. It also depends on priority, simply speaking, who was the first user of the name and who first used it in commerce and so on. You should seek professional IP lawyer to discuss further.

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