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Published byWarren Ralf Bryan Modified over 9 years ago
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Hussain Abbasi
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Definitions Types and Rights Legal Protections Their use in the industry Software/Hardware production Cases Questions
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The federal trademark act, also known as the Lanham Act, and the 1988 Trademark Law Revision Act defines a trademark as “any word, name, symbol, or device or any combination thereof adopted and used by a manufacturer or merchant to indentify and distinguish his goods, including a unique product, from those manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of goods, even if that source is unknown.” [15 U.S.C. §§ 1051-1072(1994).]
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1. To provide an identification symbol for a particular merchant’s goods 2. To indicate that the goods to which the trademark has been applied are from a single source 3. To guarantee that all goods to which the trademark has been applied are of a constant quality 4. To advertise the goods.
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Trademarks help Consumer: By reducing the cost of finding the information about the product by introducing Brand types. Trace the goods to their source through their mark. Producers: By representing the goodwill of a business Maintaining a strong trademark (Quality) is essential for success of business.
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Service Marks Connected to services. Identical laws to that of trademarks Trade Names Identifies a company, partnership, or business. Cannot be registered under federal law. Gives common law rights Certification Marks Indicate that the products meets the certifier’s standards of safety and quality. “Good House Keeping” seal.
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Inherently Distinctive Not Inherently Distinctive Generic
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Inherently Distinctive Fanciful Marks ○ Kodak, Exxon, Nokia Arbitrary Marks ○ Apple for computers, Camel for cigarettes, Shell for gasoline Suggestive Marks ○ Chicken of the Sea, IHOP
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Non Inherently Distinctive Secondary Meaning ○ Mental association by the buyer ○ Windows by Microsoft had acquired secondary meaning. Descriptive Marks ○ Specify certain characteristics of the goods, color, proposed uses, and effects of using the goods. Geographic Terms ○ Considered non-distinctive unless secondary meaning has been established ○ Are inherently distinctive if used as arbitrary manner. North Pole for cigarettes. Personal Names: ○ Not inherently distinctive ○ Have no secondary meaning ○ Lincoln for a savings bank
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Generic No protection Not even if they acquire a secondary meaning Whatever You Do with This Article, Don’t “Xerox” It 1 Whatever You Do with This Article, Don’t “Xerox” It 1 Bigger problem: loss of trademark ○ “an Apple.” instead of “an Apple computer”. ○ “a cup of Sanka.” instead of “Sanka decaffeinated coffee” 1. Weigel, Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 7, 1990 at 57
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http://www.law.uconn.edu/homes/swilf/ip/cases/tommaso.htm http://www.iprsonline.org/unctadictsd/docs/RB_Part1_Nov_1.2Update.pdf
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