1. Trademark Law Jody Blanke, Professor Computer Information Systems and Law Mercer University, Atlanta

2. Trademark Law Combination of federal and state law Authority of federal law derives from regulation of interstate commerce Authority of state law derives from regulation of intrastate commerce

3. Protects Dual Interests Protects trademark owner’s interest in brand name value and good will Protects consumers from confusion

4. Trademarks can be … words Coca Cola phrases “Have it your way” symbols sounds

5. 586 Intel learned that you cannot trademark numbers themselves Pentium can be trademarked You can trademark 7-Up Three-peat

6. Generics Dixie Cups Frisbee Hi-Liter Kitty Litter Kleenex Magic Marker Ping-Pong Popsicle Scotch Tape Sheetrock TV Dinners Wiffle Ball Cellophane Corn Flakes Dry Ice Lanolin Mimeograph Monopoly Pogo Stick Raisin Bran Shredded Wheat Thermos Toll House Trampoline

7. Strength of Protection 1. Fanciful e.g., Kodak, Atari, Exxon 2. Arbitrary e.g., Apple, Amazon 3. Suggestive e.g., Compaq, Dairy Queen 4. Descriptive (must acquire a secondary meaning) e.g., Computerland, Ben & Jerrys 5. Generic e.g., aspirin, elevator

8. Trademark Infringement “Likelihood of confusion” standard Court looks at factors like similarity of goods sophistication of consumers length of time that mark has been used wrongful intent

9. Lexus/Lexis Mead Data Corp. sued Toyota in 1989 Toyota won court found little chance of confusion perspective luxury car buyer won’t come home with a legal database instead and vice versa

10. Trademark Dilution Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1996 prior to 1996 28 states had anti-dilution laws Must show “famous” mark “actual dilution” Dilution by blurring Dilution by tarnishment

11. Microsoft Sandwich Shoppe Makes a great sandwich Becomes very popular “Let’s go to Microsoft” dilution by blurring? But after the very unfortunate e-coli incident dilution by tarnishment?

12. Exemptions to FTDA Fair use in comparative advertising Noncommercial use News reporting and commentary

13. Lexus/Lexis Revisited Would there be infringement today? Would there be dilution today?

14. Web Domain Names New frontier for trademark law Early “entrepreneurs” registered www.mtv.com www.abc.com Today we call them cybersquatters

15. www.delta.comwww.delta.com 1996

16. www.delta.comwww.delta.com April 2000

17. www.delta.comwww.delta.com August 2000

18. www.delta.comwww.delta.com October 2000

19. www.nissan.comwww.nissan.com 1996

20. www.nissan.comwww.nissan.com 1999

21. www.nissan.comwww.nissan.com 2006

22. www.google.com

23. www.froogle.comwww.froogle.com 2004

24. www.booble.comwww.booble.com 2004

25. www.booble.comwww.booble.com 2005

26. www.peta.orgwww.peta.org 1996

27. www.peta.orgwww.peta.org 2006

28. www.candyland.comwww.candyland.com 1996

29. www.candyland.comwww.candyland.com 1999

30. Contested Domain Names www.playboyxxx.com www.asianplayboy.com www.lucentsucks.com www.amazom.com