Brand Protection

The Supreme Court declined to hear Vetements. The FederalCircuit’s doctrine of foreign equivalents stands. Here’s what international brands need to knowbefore filing in the U.S. In January 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up Vetements Group AG v. Stewart.With that single decision — actually a non-decision — a Swiss luxury label lost its […]

You filed your trademark application. You waited the better part of a year for an examining attorney to pick it up. And then the office action arrived: a “likelihood of confusion” refusal citing a senior application or registration you’d never heard of, owned by an entity you can’t seem to find online.You’re not necessarily looking […]

Crocs has spent years trying to establish that the shape of its classic clog is not just a design choice, but a brand identifier capable of functioning as a 3D trademark and protectable trade dress. The company has asserted these rights globally, with a mix of wins and setbacks. A newly surfaced 2025 Colorado federal […]

1. What Happened in the Case In 2022, Sonate Corporation, doing business as Vegadelphia Foods, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Beyond Meat and Dunkin’. The dispute centered on Beyond Meat’s and Dunkin’s use of the slogans: both used in national advertising for Dunkin’s breakfast sandwich made with Beyond Meat sausage. Vegadelphia owns a federal […]

When Trader Joe’s launched its crust-free sandwiches this fall, fans called them a hit. Smucker’s called them a copycat. The food giant behind Uncrustables filed suit, claiming Trader Joe’s new sandwiches mimic the round, crimped-edge design and blue-purple packaging that have made Uncrustables a staple in lunchboxes for two decades. It’s easy to laugh at […]

Your Handle Is More Than a Username If you’ve grown past 10,000 followers, your Instagram handle isn’t just a screen name — it’s part of your brand identity. And as your audience grows, so does the risk that someone else might try to capitalize on it. Owning your @handle on a platform doesn’t give you […]

You’ve invested time, creativity, and care into your brand. Whether you’re a content creator, educator, designer, coach, or founder, your brand identity—its name, voice, aesthetic, and reputation—is one of your most valuable business assets. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs don’t realize that without legal protection, that asset is vulnerable. The most effective way to secure your brand […]