Judge rules in battle of law firms using same initials in their names
A law firm that used the P and M initials in its name didn’t infringe the trademark of another law firm that used the same initials, a Texas judge has ruled.
Judge Robert Schaffer of Harris County ruled that Paranjpe & Mahadass did not infringe the trademark of the PM Law Firm, report the Houston Chronicle and Texas Lawyer. Paranjpe & Mahadass uses “P&M” and “PM” in marketing materials, and “P&M” on its website.
Paranjpe & Mahadass had filed a suit for a declaratory judgment after the PM Law Firm sent it a cease-and-desist letter. The PM Law Firm, led by John Papapavlou and Porya Mostaghimi, had countered that it was entitled to damages for trademark infringement.
Schaffer ruled that the PM Law Firm doesn’t have a valid common law trademark for its name.
