Claire Wortsman is an IPilogue Writer and a 2L JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. From the thrilling gold-medal finish of the women’s soccer team to Andre De…
Category: Famous Marks
Can’t “Flea” from Louis Vuitton
Although there is no shortage of counterfeit products on the market, it is not everyday that a high fashion designer sues your local flea market. Recently, Louis Vuitton reportedly filed…
The Washington Wrong-Skins: A Moral Victory over Tasteless Trademarks
The football field is for helmets not headdresses. In the much talked about June 18, 2014 decision in Blackhorse v Pro Football, Inc. the United States Patent and Trademark Office…
Parody in Trade-mark Law - "Dumb Starbucks" Might Not Be So Dumb After All
Nathan Fielder created quite an uproar when he opened up an establishment in Los Feliz, California named “Dumb Starbucks.” According to its FAQ sheet, the store claimed to legally operate…
“World War Pink”: Victoria’s Secret and Thomas Pink Square Off in Dispute Over “Pink” Brands
The global branding dispute between Thomas Pink and Victoria’s Secret opened up a front in Canada last month. In the decision, Justice Hughes of the Federal Court found that Victoria’s…
Beer, Reform, and Policy: A Pint of Chinese Trade-mark Law
If you want to order a Heineken in China, just ask the bartender for a “喜力啤酒” (pronounced “see lee pee jow”). The second word-pair, “啤酒”(“pee jow”), simply means “beer” and…