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If you plan to file a trademark application for alcohol on your “intent to use” the mark in commerce in the U.S., then you’d better have more than and a nice bottle design. That’s the message from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in a precedential opinion in Tequila Cuadra v. Botas Cuadra, Opposition…

We often have to advise our trademark clients to be on the lookout for letters and offers that look awfully official, but are really just over-priced or unnecessary docketing services. Our clients know that all official communications will either come from us or the USPTO. But, now, scam letters appearing to be from the USPTO…

As trademark attorneys, we love when a case gives us both a good laugh and a solid legal takeaway. Bringing together French royalty, NFL fandom, and trademark law—basically, my idea of a good time—the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit shut down an attempt to dethrone the New Orleans Saints’ claim to their iconic…

In January, the U.S. Copyright Office issued a detailed report concerning whether AI generated works should be entitled to registration. The Office believes that existing U.S. Copyright law is sufficient to deal with this issue. Overall, the Office will register works where there is evidence of human authorship. Prompts alone are not enough. For fun,…

In an era where cell phones are ubiquitous and area codes are no longer reliable indicators of geographic location, it is increasingly difficult for businesses to ensure strict compliance with the TCPA’s quiet hours. Unlike the late 1990s, when text messages were costly, and area codes closely aligned with geographic regions, today’s mobile users can…

AI Days 2025 at Vanderbilt University is an event that brings together experts, researchers, and enthusiasts to discuss the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. Attending the conference for Phillips & Bathke, P.C., I was excited to hear from leaders who shared insights on the implications of AI across various fields, including education and business….

The Corporate Transparency Act requirement to file beneficial ownership statements is back on. The deadline to file is March 21, 2025. If you are required to file, take prompt action to get that on file. – Jon Phillips

The Illinois State Bar Association recently published This Article written by firm founder, Jonathan Phillips. It concerns the intersection of trademark law and political speech. Phillips, J., Intra-third-party squabble results in Sixth Circuit opinion applying Lanham Act to political marks, Intellectual Property, Vo. 64, No. 2, Ill. State Bar Ass’n (Dec. 2024)

Can social media influencers protect the look and feel of their online content under U.S. copyright law? According to the social media influencer, Sydney Gifford (@sydneynicoleslone) the answer is yes. In a federal lawsuit filed in the Western District of Texas this year, Ms. Gifford alleges that another social media influencer, Alyssa Sheil (@alyssasheill) created…