Merci, Danke, and Thank You—different in linguistic origin, yet all express gratitude.  Now that we are in the holiday season, you may want to convey appreciation to someone by expressing thanks or giving a gift, perhaps chocolate.  After all, saying “thank you” is commonly associated with chocolate, at least according to the Trademark Trial and

The phrase “Boston Strong” became a rallying cry for the strength and support Bostonians displayed after an act of terrorism. 

In 2013, two brothers planted bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in Copley Square.  Three people were killed, and hundreds were injured.  Residents of Boston and surrounding neighborhoods were told to stay

You’ve heard the name Labubu and have likely seen the wildly popular collectible plush toy. The craze around these dolls is reminiscent of times past when we (or perhaps a family member) all wanted Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, or Troll dolls. This spike in popularity has brought about counterfeit LABUBU toys dubbed “Lafufus.” These

Although the market for NFTs has cooled off from its heyday several years ago, digital goods are still a hot commodity. This summer, the Ninth Circuit recognized that such goods are more than mere ephemera:  they are “goods” under the Lanham Act to which trademark law applies.

The case, Yuga Labs v. Ripps, involved

Photograph by the author, featuring the trademarked US OPEN design mark.

It’s that time of year where, for two weeks in late August and early September, tens of thousands of people descend upon Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York for the U.S. Open tennis tournament. The biggest stars in the world of tennis are there

Taylor Swift isn’t just a pop icon—she’s a master of intellectual property strategy. With the announcement of her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift once again demonstrated how to blend creative storytelling with airtight brand protection. Just hours before she appeared on her boyfriend’s podcast to pull the album out of

Angel Reese—the former LSU basketball superstar who now plays for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA—made headlines recently when she filed an application to register MEBOUNDS as a trademark for clothing and related items (Serial No. 99,234,613).  “Mebounds” was a phrase used by some of Ms. Reese’s critics, referring to rebounds Ms. Reese grabs after

Originally posted on Seyfarth’s The Blunt Truth blog.

I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a TOYS R US kid. So, many of us grew up with this commercial jingle and it along with the brand brings back positive memories of celebrating birthdays and holidays. But what happens when a company operating in a not so kid-friendly field starts using a trademark similar to that of the TOYS R US mark? 

In a case that blends nostalgia with modern controversy, Tru Kids Inc., the owner of the TOYS R US mark, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against a vape and cannabis retailer operating under the name VAPE R US. The complaint alleges trademark infringement, dilution, false designation of origin, and unfair competition under both federal and state law. Tru Kids Inc. v. Vape R Us, Inc. et al, 3:25-cv-00781-VAB (D.Conn.). 

At the heart of the dispute is the retailer’s use of branding that closely mirrors the iconic TOYS R US trademark and others associated with the brand. According to the complaint, the vape shop’s signage features multicolored bubble letters, a reversed “R” with a star, and even a depiction of Geoffrey the Giraffe. The long-standing mascot of the toy brand appears with a not so familiar “toy”—a vaping device.Continue Reading I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I’m a What Kind of Kid? Toys R Us Takes on Vape R Us in Trademark Battle

On May 9, 2025, I sat in a crowded football stadium for the sold-out second night of the Grand National Tour concert featuring Kendrick Lamar and SZA (the stage name of Solána Rowe). As I listened to those iconic artists perform their hit song “luther,” my mind turned, as it often does, to trademarks. I

Seyfarth’s Trademark practice earned widespread recognition in the 2025 edition of the World Trademark Review 1000 spotlighting “world-class legal trademark expertise.” The firm earned high rankings nationally as well as in the states of California, Georgia, Illinois, and New York. WTR wrote of Seyfarth: “Championing client relationships above all, Seyfarth Shaw’s team of intellectual property