#Trademarks?: Hashtags as trademarks

Hashtags have become ubiquitous in social media, but their status as intellectual property—particularly as trademarks—is still developing. First adopted by Twitter users to link user posts, hashtags are character strings preceded by the “#” symbol that generate a link to all other posts containing the same tag. Today, in addition to providing the search-related functionality for which they were first developed, hashtags provide businesses new ways to  engage with consumers. Hashtag marketing campaigns by businesses generate brand awareness by encouraging social media users to post with the campaign tag and, in return, offer users discounts, prizes or even a chance to become a model.

Saiba mais em: http://www.lexology.com/librar

Feathers fly in trademark battle

It’s a classic David vs Goliath battle. US multinational Indian ­Motorcycles is throwing its sizeable weight at a 45-year-old Sydney small business, Chieftain Canopies, because the family operation owns the trademark that it wants for one of its products.

Saiba mais em: http://www.theaustralian.com.a

 (Illegal) Drugs and Trademarks

After thinking more about the recent decision by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to (at least initially) refuse federal registration status to the mark SLANTS used by a band of performers of primarily Asian descent, (see May 6, 2915 blog post “Disparagement, Political Correctness and the First Amendment”), I thought that, just for fun, I would check whether the relatively recent legalization of marijuana in a couple of states has led to rash of MARIJUANA mark filings.  Yup.

Saiba mais em: http://www.trademarkologist.com/2015/05/