Trademark News

University of South Carolina Adds Carolina Script Helmet Logo

by Kevin Hartley August 31, 2018

“It’s football time in Tennessee.” The famous words of Vol legend John Ward have been in my head all week. The “Voice of the Vols” passed away a few months ago, but he will be on the mind of every Tennessee fan all season. In the SEC, traditions fade slowly. [...]

Comic Con Trademark: Attorneys’ Fees Are No Laughing Matter

by Bill Ferrell August 27, 2018

It doesn’t happen very often, but a judge has awarded attorneys’ fees in a trademark case. For years now, San Diego Comic Con has been in a dispute with Salt Lake Comic Con over San Diego Comic Con’s COMIC-CON trademark (Back in 2014, resident cosplay expert, furry aficionado, and larping [...]

Trademark Hell: Knockin’ on Heaven Hill’s Door

by Kevin Hartley August 22, 2018

As Trust Tree’s resident bourbon expert* (sorry Bill & G) and Guns N’ Roses fan, I must uncork a post about the trademark dispute between Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. and Heaven’s Door Spirits, LLC that recently spilled over into a federal lawsuit. Heaven’s Door is named after the famous song [...]

Trademark Money Moves: Cardi B and Offset to Trademark Daughter’s Name

by Kevin Hartley August 15, 2018

In July, Cardi B and Offset introduced their daughter Kulture Kiara Cephus to the world. In August, a company registered to Offset filed an application with the USPTO to register Kulture’s name as a trademark. The application seeks to protect the mark KULTURE KIARA CEPHUS for use related to clothing, [...]

Don’t Poke the Bear- The Aloha Poke Co. Trademark

by Bill Ferrell August 13, 2018

As a trademark owner, you need to enforce your rights or you could potentially lose them, but sending out trademark cease and desist letters can be tricky. These letters can wind up circulated widely on social media, and every couple of months it seems like one devolves into a PR [...]

Trust Tree Featured in Tennessee Bar Journal

by Trust Tree March 8, 2018

Horn-tooting time! In a recent interview with The Tennessee Bar Journal, Trust Tree President Kevin Hartley reveals the secrets to the firm’s success. In the article, University of Tennessee School of Law Professor Benjamin Barton discusses how technology, branding, and innovation have helped the firm’s exponential growth since it’s founding […]

Law Firm Launches Puppy Themed Website

by Trust Tree November 17, 2017

Nashville-based trademark law firm, Trust Tree Legal, P.C., has launched a new website, totally rebranded with images of puppies. The website, which launched in mid-November, isn’t just about puppies, however. The firm has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2015, and relies heavily on technology to serve its clients. The […]

9th Circuit in Empire State of Mind

by Bill Ferrell November 16, 2017

Today, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ended Empire record label’s trademark infringement lawsuit against 20th Century Fox Television over the name of the television show “Empire,” on First Amendment grounds. The record label, Empire Distribution Inc., which reps hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg (and is not […]

Humvee sues “Call of Duty” Maker Activision for Trademark Infringment

by Bill Ferrell November 16, 2017

AM General, has sued Activision Blizzard Inc., the maker of the popular video game “Call of Duty” for trademark infringement for using images of its Humvee military vehicles in the game. The Humvee (short for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles) has been widely used by the US military for years, and is a […]

John Lewis Christmas Ad Kicks Off the Holiday Season

by Bill Ferrell November 14, 2017

Here at Trust Tree we keep a photo of Santa up year-round, so it should come as no surprise that we get super excited when the John Lewis Christmas video shows up every year. Nothing kicks off the holidays like a good, long, happy cry. Enjoy!