Dolly Parton: Working 9 to 5 to Protect Her Trademarks

Is there a more beloved person in the music industry than Dolly Parton? I can’t think of one. I met her once, and she is every bit of lovely as you would expect. She even complimented my wife’s shoes. So it’s hard to believe that anyone would try to profit off her good name. But […]
Nashville’s Private School Trademark Rankings: Who Comes Out on Top?

Branding is not just important for businesses. It matters for schools too. Here in Nashville, the branding for the various private schools is distinct and recognizable. From logos to mottos, these schools use their brands to communicate their values and culture. Trademarks are an essential part of this branding. If a brand is like someone’s […]
Pizza by Alfredo vs. Alfredo’s Pizza Café: Trademark Lessons from The Office

Part of my job is trademark enforcement, which typically involves sending cease-and-desist letters to infringers. Some lawyers take a slash-and-burn approach, threatening to rain legal hellfire down on the infringer if they don’t cease and desist. Others prefer an academic format, with letters that resemble a legal treatise on trademark infringement and unfair competition. Personally, […]
Don’t Poke the Bear- The Aloha Poke Co. Trademark

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 catastrophe. This episode of Cease […]