| Whether a company is introducing a new product or has an established international portfolio of trademarks, effective brand protection demands an informed strategy and careful management. We have the practical experience to help with both. We advise and represent clients in all aspects of trademark strategy, clearance, protection, enforcement and litigation.
Portfolio management Offering full-service domestic and international trademark management, we have the experience, resources and worldwide contacts to handle your needs efficiently and cost-effectively. We manage many large international portfolios for clients in industries as diverse as entertainment and media, food and beverage, apparel, health care and manufacturing. With highly experienced, specialist paralegals and a comprehensive docketing system, taking on and managing a new portfolio is a seamless process. For those companies that handle their routine trademark work in-house, we frequently serve as outside counsel for sensitive clearance issues, contested matters and other issues requiring special expertise.
Clearance and advice
Whether providing full trademark searching and clearance services or rendering second-opinion trademark guidance to sophisticated in-house counsel, we strive to give straightforward, practical advice that addresses your business realities. When appropriate, we often work directly with a company’s business staff. We are committed to being accessible and responsive, and to meeting your needs quickly, with a brief telephone call or e-mail, if possible, so that your operations are not delayed.
Watching and policing
We believe the first steps in monitoring trademarks are a clear understanding of our client’s marketing goals and a practical cost-effective strategy to serve those goals. Using a wide range of resources, including commercial watch services, online searches, and reports from trusted foreign counsel, we can then monitor U.S. and international trademark filings, domain name registrations, and even unregistered uses, for possible conflicts and infringements. We have the experience to pursue and resolve such matters at all levels, through investigation, appropriate cease and desist letters, informal solutions, and litigation or administrative action, when necessary.
Trademark enforcement
We have extensive experience litigating trademark cases, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, but are equally proud of the numerous trademark disputes that we have successfully resolved without the expense and delay of litigation. We help our clients develop trademark enforcement strategies to match their unique markets and needs, and have particular experience with strategies to combat online and domain name infringements. Matters we have litigated, in addition to many traditional trademark infringements, also include the nonfunctional design aspects of products, product configuration, trade dress, geographic origin, initial interest confusion and certification and collective mark claims. Depending on a client’s needs and preferences, we can manage trademark enforcement directly, or prepare materials for use by in-house staff, or do a mix of both. In every case, we custom-tailor our approach to our clients’ individual needs.
Click here to see our Trademark Litigation work. |
Selected Experience Clearwire Corporation Ongoing Responsible for worldwide trademark portfolio, including brand strategy, clearance, registration and enforcement, for this pioneering developer of wireless broadband and WiMax services since its inception. Also responsible for management and documentation of all trademark matters involved in the company's complex merger and acquisition activities. Ongoing Responsible for worldwide trademark portfolio, including registration, licensing and enforcement, for Gary Larson's "The Far Side." Financial services industry Ongoing Representation of more than 30 financial service institutions, including domestic and foreign trademark portfolio management including trademark clearance, registration, enforcement, defense, renaming/rebranding and Internet issues including cybersquatting and phishing matters. The clients include banks and credit unions in locations stretching from Vermont to Florida and California to Washington State, foreign banks with domestic operations, and financial services providers, such as, the Frank Russell Company with operations in the major financial markets of the world. Kaiser Permanente Ongoing Responsible for worldwide trademark portfolio, including brand strategy, clearance, registration and enforcement, for Kaiser Permanente health care organizations. Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Ongoing Responsible for the worldwide trademark portfolio of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., including clearance, policing and claims related to this portfolio, spanning the company's television, radio, publishing, online, and extensive merchandising programs. Sesame Workshop Ongoing Responsible for the worldwide trademark portfolio of Sesame Workshop, producer of "Sesame Street" and other renowned children's television programming, spanning nearly 100 countries around the world. Responsible for all clearance, protection, licensing and claims/disputes including global protection strategy for all of the Workshop's entertainment properties and extensive merchandising. Toronto Blue Jays Ongoing U.S. trademark search and clearance services for marks proposed to be used by Major League Baseball club and its minor league affiliates. Us Weekly Ongoing Outside trademark counsel to celebrity and fashion-defining entertainment magazine, responsible for the magazine's trademark portfolio, including clearance, protection, enforcement and licensing issues worldwide. Ziff Davis Media Ongoing Outside intellectual property/trademark counsel to Ziff Davis Media, one of the country's leading publishers of technology magazines and online content, on trademark, copyright and associated issues. Northwest wine, beer and spirits industry Ongoing Represent and provide strategic advice related to protection and enforcement of trademarks to over 100 clients in the Northwest wine, beer and spirits industry, including King Estate and Willamette Valley Vineyards. Rolling Stone Ongoing Outside trademark counsel to iconic music and entertainment magazine, responsible for the magazine's trademark portfolio, including clearance, protection, enforcement and licensing issues worldwide. | |