Toll free 888-291-5676 February 2019 Global Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions and Litigation Intellectual Property Intelligence     Are You Offended?: Scandalous and Disparaging Trademarks Not every name or brand is eligible for the protection that federal trademark registration offers. Marks can be denied registration for various reasons, including whether they have been judged to be "scandalous" or "offensive." Today, however, a case heading to the U.S. Supreme Court could change the way such marks are handled at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.           Waiting to Enforce your Trademark Rights Owning a trademark brings certain benefits, as well as certain obligations. Your trademark rights allow you to preclude subsequent entities in the same area from using the same, or confusingly similar, trademark on related products or services. Find out more about your rights as a trademark owner.           Understanding the Use of Decision Trees in Mediation A useful tool in preparing for mediation or in a mediation itself is a decision tree. Decision trees, also known as flow charts, help attorneys to make decisions early in the mediation process and plan for potential outcomes. Learn how a decision tree helps attorneys to understand issues and possible results in a litigation.   Highlights from Panitch Schwarze     Panitch Schwarze Client LugBug® Featured on ABC's 'Shark Tank' LugBug, a client of the firm, was featured on ABC's Shark Tank in fall of 2018. The LugBug Handle is an attachment for baby carriers that allows better range of motion for parents and caregivers. LugBug's creator, Nathan Day, presented his invention to the Sharks on the Oct. 8 episode of season 10 of the popular program.           PTAB Declines to Review Panitch Schwarze Client's Design Patent, Allowing it to Remain Valid Law360 covered a recent decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that effectively upheld a patent granted to Panitch Schwarze client Idea Nuova Inc.           Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel Ranked Among 2019 'Best Law Firms' Panitch Schwarze is proud to announce that it has been named a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for 2019, once again achieving national rankings in the practice areas of intellectual property litigation, patent litigation, patent law, and trademark law.           Stephen E. Murray Named Partner at Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel Stephen E. Murray has been named a partner of the firm. Steve has a wealth of experience in patent application preparation and prosecution, post-grant review, and patent litigation.             Featured Practice Area – Post Grant Review The firm excels at identifying methods for achieving successful resolutions and creating innovative ideas to manage long-term patent strategies. Our post-grant attorneys have successfully represented clients in inter partes reviews through trial and written decision, and often present on post-grant review proceedings. Read more about our Post Grant Review Practice… Featured Industry – Entertainment Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel serves entertainment industries, helping businesses safeguard and enforce their intellectual property. We take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses, to determine what needs to be trademarked, if there is anything that needs to be patented, and if there are any trade secrets to protect. Read more about our expertise in the entertainment industry…     Did You Know? Did you know that McDonald's cannot use its "big mac" trademark in Ireland? McDonald's recently lost its "big mac" trademark battle to Ireland based Supermac's in a decision made by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Connect with Us Frequently Asked Questions About IP Q: What do the ™, ℠, ®, ©, and "Pat. Pend." Symbols Mean? How should I use them? A: Intellectual property assets are valuable. One way to maintain the value of those assets is to correctly use the applicable notice, shown as symbols or specific phrasing, that publicly designates the type of protection claimed. Read more about how to use these symbols… What are the benefits of U.S. trademark registration? A: U.S. trademark rights originate when a mark is used in commerce in association with specific goods and/or services. When considering adoption and use of a particular mark, a company should consider pursuing a federal registration for the mark to more fully protect and promote that brand name. Read more about the trademark registration.   Visit our website at www.PanitchLaw.com Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Suite 2800, Philadelphia, PA 19103 // (215) 965-1330 Wells Fargo Tower, 2200 Concord Pike, Suite 201, Wilmington, DE 19803 // (302) 394-6030 Copyright © Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is a premier intellectual property law firm based in Philadelphia, Pa and Wilmington, De. The firm provides individuals with intellectual property and trademark law legal counsel and representation in copyrights, IP protection, licensing, litigation, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and related matters. The firm prides itself on leadership within the profession and a strong record of success. 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