Anchorage Trademark Attorneys & Lawyers

Pirates Beware! ISPs are cracking down on illegal downloads.

In the face of widespread online file sharing, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as AT&T, Cablevision Systems, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Verizon are implementing a “six-strike” plan to educate and eventually prevent pirates from downloading material.  You read that right—there are six strikes. The system is intended to target peer-to-peer file sharing websites, and not online lockers, such as Dropbox, or email attachments.

After the first offense is detected, the Internet subscriber will receive an email alert from their ISP saying that the subscriber account may have been used for “online co

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What Is Cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting involves buying website domains, especially those of well-known companies or brands, for financial gain or unlawful use. Cybersquatters often intend to profit from someone else's registered trademark by purchasing a domain name before the trademark owner can do so.

How Did Cybersquatting Begin?

Cybersquatting started in the 1990s before most businesses were active on the internet. People bought domain names of businesses with plans to sell the domains to those businesses for profit. When businesses realized that having a website was important and they tried to buy the domain names, they faced large fees from cybersquatters.

Buying and selling company domains isn't the only way to cybersquat. Cybersquatting can involve the following:

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Updated November 23, 2020:

What Is an Opposition Proceeding?

An opposition procedure is a tool that companies can use when their trademark, brand, logo, or patent, typically utility patents, is under attack. If another brand or competitor applies to use a similar mark, the company can file an opposition to deny the application.

When to File an Opposition Procedure

A company might file an opposition because the company in question is in the same industry and the company could lose business because of confusion. However, it can also file a complaint if the mark is used in a different industry – as long as the company can prove that it would lose money because of the competing mark.

The opposition procedure starts after the trademark application has been reviewed. It

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What Is Trademark Registration?

Federal trademark registration establishes a business's or person's ownership of a trademark. The main purpose of federal trademark registration is to offer as much protection as possible for slogans, logos, and brand names from infringement. The process of trademark registration takes at least six months, but can last longer.

A trademark is any mark that one uses or intends to use to distinguish the goods of a manufacturer from that of another manufacturer. Another term for trademark is a brand name.

Trademarks are an important business tool because they give a company the ability to establish a product's reputation. Trademarks can include the following:

• Names
• Words
• Symbols

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Updated October 9,2020:

What is Trademark vs. Logo?

A trademark protects a slogan, phrase, word, company name, logo, or design that identifies a company and/or its goods. A logo is a symbol or design used by a company that may fall under trademark protection laws. Many businesses choose to apply for trademark protection on their logos. When approved, a trademark restricts others from using an exact or similar mark.

In order to qualify for legal protection, a trademark must be unique. Prior to filing an application, the designer or business owner should conduct a thorough search of

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