Originally published on the Privacy and IP Law Blog by Neal & McDevitt Partner Christina Frangiosa, on Sept. 15, 2025. The USPTO recently announced that, on August 6, 2025, it terminated over *52,000* pending applications and issued registrations handled by a foreign filing firm, Shenzhen Seller Growth Network Tech, and its affiliates (collectively “Seller Growth” or “Respondents“) [...]
This past weekend Elon Musk announced plans to rebrand Twitter as X. This strategic shift from one of the most recognized names and logos in the social media realm is stirring discussion throughout the industry. This notable transformation raises a broader question: Can a company still have rights in its trademarks after rebranding? What might [...]
Imagine this scenario – a well-known founder of a company sets up social media accounts that promote the company’s products. The accounts also occasionally display personal content (e.g., public happy birthday messages the founder sends to his spouse). The company fires the founder and then claims it owns of the accounts. If the founder says [...]
The rollout of the Washington Commanders' brand recently hit a snag when the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denied a number of the team's applications to register the trademarks COMMANDERS and WASHINGTON COMMANDERS. As you can see from this recent NBC Sports piece, there are other trademark owners who can claim rights in [...]
The ability of AI to gather, analyze, and interpret large sets of data can lead to invaluable insights and efficiencies. But as businesses increasingly rely on AI to develop and execute branding strategies, they must be aware of the potential legal issues that can arise. Here are five issues to consider: Data Protection and Privacy [...]
In today's brand-conscious marketplace, legal agreements between businesses often contain clauses allowing for publicity of the agreement itself and use of each other's trademarks. This practice of mutual brand promotion can lend credibility to the involved parties and also serve as a powerful marketing strategy. Understanding Publicity and Trademark Use Provisions Publicity provisions in a [...]
