Trademark Law

Appeals court hears ‘The Pitt’ producers’ plea to kill ‘ER’ lawsuit

A medical TV show’s drama has spilled over to the courtroom, as an attorney for the producers of The Pitt told a California appeals court on Tuesday that the popular show is a unique work that cannot be sued on free speech grounds.

Sep 9, 2026 9:59 AM CDT

Less ‘Mayhem’ for Lady Gaga as judge dismisses infringement lawsuit

Lady Gaga’s 2025 Mayhem album did not infringe on the trademarks of a surf company’s brand, according to California federal judge who granted the entertainer’s bid to throw out the lawsuit, noting that the brand did not sufficiently prove explicit misleading of consumers.

Aug 19, 2026 12:37 PM CDT

Federal judge fines attorney for AI mistakes in taco biz beef

A Connecticut federal judge has imposed a $3,500 fine on a defense attorney who submitted two motions containing artificial intelligence-generated mistakes in filings related to a taco restaurant’s trademark battle.

Aug 6, 2026 9:43 AM CDT

Dog toy maker laps up victory over Jack Daniel’s trademark challenge at 9th Circuit

A federal appeals court overturned the permanent injunction against the manufacturer of a dog poop-themed chew toy bearing a likeness to a bottle of whiskey Tuesday, ruling that Jack Daniel’s did not prove that VIP Products’ “Bad Spaniels” had caused the liquor maker reputational harm.

Aug 5, 2026 2:14 PM CDT

HBO’s John Oliver dares popular chain Buc-ee’s to sue him over mascot use

Comedian John Oliver is daring travel center chain Buc-ee’s to sue him over his use of a bucktoothed “Buc-Off” mascot.

Aug 3, 2026 9:54 AM CDT

Trademark violations alleged by NASCAR in suit targeting counterfeit merch sellers

Racing giant NASCAR filed a trademark infringement lawsuit Monday against undisclosed sellers of unauthorized merchandise.

Jul 31, 2026 11:18 AM CDT

Is Jimothy the raccoon too popular to be owned? IP attorneys weigh in

Soon after Jimothy, a wild Seattle raccoon with a shortened spine, became a viral sensation, trademark claims were filed to cover his name for stuffed animals and his image for baby products. But does anyone actually own Jimothy, and can they claim the rights to him?

Jul 31, 2026 10:08 AM CDT

Florida Virtual School, attorneys ordered by judge to pay $1.3M for ‘abusive’ trademark lawsuit

A Florida federal judge has ordered the Florida Virtual School and its attorneys to pay $1.3 million after ruling that the state-funded institution filed an “abusive” lawsuit alleging trademark infringement against Stride Inc., a private competitor.

Jul 23, 2026 12:01 PM CDT

Taylor Swift wins poetry copyright suit just days after marrying Travis Kelce

Pop superstar and singer Taylor Swift married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce over the July 4 weekend, and they celebrated their nuptials with friends and family in New York City. Now Swift has another reason to celebrate and shake off the claims: A Florida copyright infringement lawsuit against her has been dismissed—for good.

Jul 7, 2026 1:19 PM CDT

Patagonia accuses drag queen Pattie Gonia of trademark violation, risks its reputation

Outdoor clothing brand Patagonia and drag queen and environmentalist Pattie Gonia are enmeshed in a legal dispute in which the apparel company claims trademark infringement in violation of a 2022 agreement with the climate activist.

Jun 22, 2026 10:28 AM CDT

Can trademarking Taylor Swift’s voice, likeness combat deepfakes?

Pop supernova Taylor Swift has filed two trademark applications to protect her voice and likeness from artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos and audio.

Apr 28, 2026 1:09 PM CDT

Taylor Swift in legal showdown over ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album title use

A Las Vegas showgirl is suing Taylor Swift over the pop singer’s use of a phrase for her newest album title, which is similar to a trademarked term, according to a claim in California federal court.

Mar 31, 2026 2:46 PM CDT

Barbecue term catches fire on social media; who will get smoked on trademark rights?

If you like barbecue and use social media, you may have heard of Walter Johnson, a senior citizen social media influencer who goes by “Mr. Tendernism.” It references a term that he uses to describe smoked meat so tender that it falls right off the bone. In November, a North Carolina civil litigator who didn’t know Johnson filed two trademark applications for “Tendernism” for restaurant services and clothing.

Mar 12, 2026 8:55 AM CDT

Buchalter escapes sanctions after associate who used AI for ‘wordsmithing’ takes blame for hallucinations

Buchalter has escaped sanctions for a case filing with “hallucinated" cases after one of its attorneys took responsibility for the errors and the law firm pledged to educate its attorneys on the misuse of generative artificial intelligence.

Nov 20, 2025 9:34 AM CST

Apparent AI errors snag BigLaw firm; 1 case ‘is totally fake,’ another ‘is almost real,’ federal judge says

A federal judge in Oregon is threatening sanctions against a corporate litigant and its BigLaw attorneys for “fake citations” that appear to be the product of generative artificial intelligence.

Oct 29, 2025 3:06 PM CDT