Trademark Wars: Obama vs Doyno, Apple Computer vs Apple Urinals
Here’s a “Trademark Law For Dummies” episode… A few years ago, a New York state teen named Stefan Doyno got an idea for jewelry with modular stones. He called it Change Rocks, named his company that, and was granted a registered trademark last summer. Last month, President-want-to-be Barack Obama’s team hosted rock concerts to promote his message of “change”. The events were called Change Rocks. Now, Doyno thinks that Obama is infringing on his trademark and wants to sue…
Well here’s a lesson… it won’t fly. You can’t just trademark a name or phrase – you also need a statement of use (goods and services). In this case, the USPTO has granted exclusive rights to Doyno for the term “Change Rocks” as it applies to “jewelry”. Nothing else. Rock concerts don’t apply.
So… can you start a company simply named “Apple” without getting Steve jobs all pissed off at you… of course! There are currently 11 trademarks for “Apple” that don’t belong to 1 Infinity Loop…
APPLE: Archery supplies; Mattel toy figures; Travel agency; Eyeliner; Auto dealer; Horseshoe Nail Applicator; Rice; Plastic bags; Gaskets; Scholastic publisher; Chewing tobacco.
You could quite legally start a urinal company named Apple (as long as it didn’t have an iPod cradle!! – yuck)
Tags: trademarks, obama, changerocks, doyno
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