U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on trademark law and procedure

Lawyers' Forum

By Jonathan S. Jennings

Jonathan S. Jennings is a partner at the IP boutique law firm Pattishall, McAuliffe in Chicago. He is an adjunct professor at both Northwestern University School of Law, teaching a course on trademarks and unfair competition law, and at The John Marshall Law School, teaching right-of-publicity law. He can be reached at (312) 554-7937 and JSJ@pattishall.com.

Posted May 28, 2015 3:02 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court decided two trademark cases this year, which is a rare event. They both warrant review and consideration by brand owners in any field.The more significant is B&B Hardware v. Hargis Industries, 135 S.Ct. 1293 (2015), which has wide-ranging implications for all brand owners because it heightens the importance of Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings.In this lengthy dispute, B&B Hardware, owner of the SEALTIGHT mark for aerospace metal fasteners, opposed Hargis Industries&rsquo …

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