can i legally name my restaurant good burger or goodburger despite the nickelodeon movies?
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answered on Nov 8, 2023
Using the name "Good Burger" or "Goodburger" for your restaurant, especially given its association with the Nickelodeon movie, could raise trademark concerns. Trademarks protect names and logos used in commerce to identify the source of goods and services. If consumers might... View More 
Based in Ohio, I wanted to use a "NAME" for my architectural services business. There is an active mark with the same "NAME" registered to someone in California providing Electrical messaging services. Am I allowed to use that "NAME" for my business, and/or file that... View More
answered on May 19, 2023
Trademark issues and analyzing the potential risk of an infringement lawsuit are too fact-specific to generalize. You could apply to the US Patent and Trademark Office to register your name for a determination if you can register it. But if you do that, the registrant in CA could learn of your... View More
What is the difference between the two. If I use the phrase on a product, will I be in danger of a lawsuit?
answered on May 3, 2023
The danger of trademark infringement depends on the type of good/service you are going to use the phrase in as a trademark. You will have to examine the prior trademark registration to see what goods/service categories the registration encompasses and then compare it to your use. If the... View More
My business name is The Business Clinic and the only live trademark I could find is listed as "THE BUSINESS + CLINIC RX FOR SUCCESS". There have been other "The Business Clinic" filings but all are now shown as Dead. Before I do the filing, however, I'd appreciate knowing... View More
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answered on Apr 10, 2023
The active registration for THE BUSINESS + CLINIC RX FOR SUCCESS (stylized) would probably preclude the proposed registration for THE BUSINESS CLINIC as confusingly similar.
But even if that registration was not active, it is likely that THE BUSINESS CLINIC would be refused as "merely... View More
My business name is very similar to that of another business in a different state. We both provide the same type of services. Being in different states there's no problem, but at the end of 2023 the government is supposed to open up cross-State Licensing. I have no intention of performing... View More
answered on Mar 17, 2023
As the prior user, the other business could take action to terminate your use, even without a trademark registration. Registration is not required to obtain legal rights in a mark and the ability to terminate infringing uses. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local intellectual property... View More
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answered on Mar 10, 2023
It depends on several factors, including whether the company has trademarked the name "Ten Back" or a similar name. If the company has a trademark on the name or a similar name, then using it without permission could be considered trademark infringement. It's also important to... View More
Is it alright to name an Ohio sports club with a mascot name from a high school in Illinois? Can we use their colors? We would not use their images and the letting on our jersey design would be different.
answered on Sep 30, 2022
The only way to find out if it is "alright," is to contact the trademark owner and obtain permission. Without prior permission, there is a risk that the trademark owner could sue for trademark infringement.
answered on Sep 26, 2022
Not really a legal question. But it looks like a bit of decoration based on the hammer part of a pistol.
The cease and dissist letter stated, since we are using the word Eden in our name they want us to abandon our trademark, or they will take legal action. As I have stated, we Trademarked the name back to Edens herbs shop and theirs is Edens food. Is this legal?
answered on Aug 31, 2022
Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide a meaningful answer to this question without having much more information. Generally speaking, goods/services do not have to be the same for a trademark infringement to occur so if that herbs shop sells edible herbs, that may be a problem. But the... View More
"Elf Bar" Trademark. Is this updated? Is this trademark currently taken?
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answered on Jun 12, 2022
There is no existing registration for ELF BAR, in any class of goods or services.
There is a pending application to register ELFBAR (and design) for electronic cigarettes and related goods, based on use since Feb 2022; and another pending application to register ELFBAR BC5000 also for... View More
This may be a complex question, but I am trying to figure out the right way to ask.
Lets say I legally research & purchase a dead trademark and/or copyright today. Pretend it is an old obsolete cereal & the purchased logo & word is (Dazzlecorn).
Now I want the domain... View More
answered on Jan 21, 2022
A trademark registration might have expired or been cancelled, but the owner might still have valid rights in the mark unless the owner has "abandoned" the mark. If another person begins using it, the owner can claim infringement. Whether the mark was abandoned would be determined by... View More
answered on Nov 16, 2021
If the previous owner is not still using the mark (a mark does not have to be federally registered to stop your registration), or if the trademark was not abandoned due to opposition by a 3rd party (who may turn around and oppose your use), or if no one is currently trying to register the mark (the... View More
Can I get in trouble for selling them.
answered on Jul 1, 2021
Very possible.
Reselling a product with another person's brand for commercial purposes can be infringing.
Consult with an attorney.
answered on Mar 23, 2021
Trademarks do not pass into "common use" unless the owner has stopped using the trademark and abandoned it with no intent to resume. A trademark registration is not required to have rights in a trademark, and even if a registration expires, the trademark owner retains rights in the mark... View More
answered on Dec 30, 2020
You should consult with an attorney for a search and assesment of your risks.
In most cases your brand is the only asset your business has.
Protect it.
Edited details. Didn't know it was shown on public forum.
answered on Dec 22, 2020
You can reach out to a trademark lawyer on this site or search for one on another site. I would be more than happy to give you a quote for trademark registration services.
answered on Oct 5, 2020
Not necessarily. A trademark that is shown as being abandoned on the Trademark Office's website can still theoretically be used by the owner. Consult a trademark attorney to do a proper trademark search and give you an opinion on moving forward.
What can I do to protect my work from others trying to reduplicate it without my permission ?
answered on Aug 2, 2020
Copyright protects original works of authorship. In cases of original works, copyright registration would provide notice to others that your work is protected by copyright and that you are the copyright owner.
If I trademarked a word like Spider-Man (Which is trademarked to Marvel, just using it as an example), will that also trademark the name Spiderman, Spider Man, or any other variation of. Thanks!
answered on Jul 15, 2020
Trademark infringement is based on – at least partially because there is more than one factor -- the similarity of the marks – where the marks do not need to be exactly the same to be considered similar. This can be sound alike or look alike – and other elements of similarity.
This... View More
begun using it in the same class? Is there a period of time after which a trademark is listed as abandoned or dead that it is ok to beging using it?
answered on Jun 28, 2020
Generally, trademark rights are based on use. Using a mark gives common law rights to the user of a trademark. Registering a trademark with the federal government will give extra rights in addition to the common law rights. Therefore, even if a trademark does not have an active registration,... View More
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