When launching a new brand, it’s easy to look to successful businesses for ideas. While drawing inspiration is common, mimicking a brand too closely can lead to legal trouble. A recent example highlights this risk: the ongoing trademark dispute between Texas-based rest stop chain Buc-ee’s and a small Missouri café known as Barc-ee’s. This case […]

Mariah Carey’s holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is a Christmas staple—but did you know it was at the center of a recent copyright lawsuit? The case involved the band Vince Vance & The Valiants, who claimed that Carey copied their 1989 song of the same name. However, the court ultimately ruled […]

When designing a logo or brand graphic, you might assume there’s little risk of intellectual property (IP) infringement—after all, there are countless ways to create a visual design. However, infringement isn’t limited to words; visual elements can also violate IP laws. That’s why conducting a thorough search, ideally using the USPTO trademark database, is crucial […]

When it comes to intellectual property (IP) rights, many business owners assume that any overlap between brand names will lead to legal trouble. However, that’s not always the case. Under the right circumstances, two businesses can legally coexist—even if their names are similar. Understanding when IP infringement occurs is crucial, but just because two things […]

In today’s blog update, let’s talk about something that’s been brewing in the world of intellectual property—grab your favorite tumbler (maybe a Stanley Cup?) and settle in. Here’s the scoop: Stanley Cups, the insulated drink sensation, are facing off against none other than Stanley Black & Decker, the long-standing tool and gadget experts. These two […]

7 Intellectual Property Issues with Master Resell Rights If you’ve been online recently, you’ve probably stumbled upon “Master Resell Rights.” What is it exactly and why is everyone talking about it? Master Resell Rights is a label that gives people the right to both resell and redistribute a product while retaining 100 percent profit from […]

When it comes to starting a business, there are a variety of options available to entrepreneurs. One popular option is to purchase a franchise or license from an existing company. While these two terms are often used interchangeably, they do have some distinct differences. What is a Franchise? A franchise is a business model in […]

If you’ve recently registered a trademark, it’s not uncommon to receive invoices in the mail that seem to be related to your trademark registration. However, it’s important to be cautious and to thoroughly research any invoice that you receive before paying it to understand if it’s legitimate or a scam. It’s possible that the invoices […]

Trademark infringement occurs when a person or business uses a trademark that is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark owned by someone else in a way that is likely to cause confusion about the source of the goods or services. This can be a concern for businesses because it can lead to customer confusion, […]

You may have heard of some of the benefits of registering your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, which of these benefits apply to a pending trademark? Is there any advantage you gain by filing a trademark application? Additionally, what is the difference between filing for federal registration versus a state […]