Last April 28, it was reported that Taylor Swift filed new trademark applications to protect the pop star’s voice and image from artificial intelligence. Interestingly, this trademark application is different from other celebrities'. In this article, we will discuss what sets this trademark application apart from others and what we can learn from it.
A recent USPTO sanctions case shows how trademark applicants lost their applications—and their money—by working with unlicensed agents. If you're thinking about protecting your brand with a trademark, you've probably seen ads from companies promising to handle your trademark application for a fr...
The Legal Distinction That Changes Everything The accusation hits your inbox: someone's claiming you're selling "counterfeit" products. Or maybe you're the brand owner who just discovered knockoffs of your product, and you're ready to unleash the full force of counterfeiting penalties on the sel...
How Ford Banister Turned the Tables on Bad Actors Who Weaponized the Internet At Ford Banister LLC, we tell our clients that when bad actors target your brand or business, the answer isn't to back down. It's to fight back strategically, turn enforcement into a profit center, and hold wrongdoers ...
The Lamborghini Domain Dispute That Every Brand Owner Should Know Cybersquatting, trademark rights, and the power of UDRP enforcement In October 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit delivered a decisive message to cybersquatters everywhere: trademark rights matter, and bad fait...
Not all threats to your brand come from counterfeiters. Gray market goods, genuine products sold through unauthorized channels, can damage your brand reputation, undercut authorized distributors, and create customer confusion. This comprehensive guide explains the legal framework behind gray market enforcement, including the first-sale doctrine and material differences exception, and provides actionable strategies for protecting your distribution channels. Learn how to leverage contractual controls, customs enforcement, and strategic litigation to maintain brand integrity.
Identity theft is one of the most widespread and costly online threats facing individuals and businesses today. According to the Scorpion 2025 Legal Consumer Insights Report, law firms across the United States are seeing a sharp rise in client matters involving online fraud, impersonation, and digital identity misuse. From e-commerce sellers to everyday consumers, nearly everyone is at risk.
When Trademark Filings Go Wrong: Your Options After Using a Non-Attorney Agency All too often, small business owners and entrepreneurs come to us with a story similar to this: They paid a low-cost "trademark filing agency" to handle their USPTO application. The ads promised quick, affordable bra...
How a viral toy craze exposes the complexities of modern IP enforcement in a globalized world The story of Labubu versus "Lafufu" reads like a modern parable about intellectual property in the digital age. What happens when a Chinese company's innovative product becomes so successful that Chines...
The Trump Organization's recent federal court success demonstrates the continued effectiveness of Schedule A litigation as a powerful tool for trademark enforcement. On July 25, 2025, The Trump Organization LLC and its IP holding company DTTM Operations LLC filed a comprehensive trademark infring...
A Schedule A lawsuit is a federal court action that allows brand owners to sue dozens or hundreds of online counterfeiters simultaneously. These intellectual property enforcement cases have become the most effective tool for combating widespread e-commerce infringement, enabling rapid asset freezes, immediate takedowns, and comprehensive brand protection across all major platforms. Understanding Schedule A litigation is essential for any trademark attorney or intellectual property attorney representing brands facing online counterfeiting.
The USPTO’s investigation, which began with Show Cause Orders in 2022 and 2023, uncovered widespread misconduct, including forged signatures and falsified application details. These deceptive practices led to improperly granted registrations, which now face reconsideration and possible cancellation.
Trademark attorney impersonation scams are becoming a troubling reality in the realm of intellectual property. As regulatory bodies implement stricter measures to counter fraudulent filings, these scams exploit the resulting complexities, targeting unsuspecting businesses and individuals. A recen...
In recent years, the legal profession has faced an unsettling trend: the theft and misuse of attorney credentials, particularly in intellectual property (IP) law. Bad actors, often operating from overseas, have found ways to exploit security vulnerabilities, bypassing safeguards to commit fraud t...
Intellectual Property (IP) laws are in place to safeguard creators' rights by giving them authority over their creations, such as works of art and designs as well as their own image and identity. A recent dispute arose concerning drag queen Pattie Gonia when her image was featured in a campaign a...
Trademarks are vital assets for any business. If someone is infringing on your trademarked property, enforcing your rights in a timely and strategic manner is critical. Ford Banister LLC has successfully represented clients in litigation cases involving a range of trademark infringement issues, i...
Under the Lanham Act, the importation, exportation, and sale of counterfeit goods are prohibited, and such goods can be seized by the government. Legal action can result in significant statutory damages aimed at deterring counterfeiting. Damages for trademark counterfeiting can be as high as $2...
You can legally use the “® ” symbol after successfully registering with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The “®” symbol is a critical indicator in trademark law, denoting that a trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You may use t...
Trademarks: Trademarks are protected under the Federal Lanham Act. They consist of source identifiers and can include elements like logos, word marks, jingles, or even unique scents Copyrights: Copyrights protect creative works, which encompass a wide range of artistic expressions such as songs...
Taking legal action against an Amazon Seller who is producing and/or selling counterfeit versions of a product containing intellectual property you own may be the quickest and most effective way to ensure they stop while also fighting for you to be appropriately compensated. Discovering your prod...
Request for the filings and proceedings to be sealed. The destruction of evidence is a real problem faced in a counterfeiting litigation case. By requesting filings and proceedings to be sealed, your intellectual property rights attorney can proceed in a stealthy manner. This aids in the collect...
Two of the most common reasons for an Amazon Seller to want to sue Amazon are: Undeposited funds due to an account suspension A denied claim for lost or damaged inventory For either of these reasons, you may need to seek legal counsel from an Amazon Lawyer to seek justice and receive the ...
A black hat seller, or someone engaging in black hat tactics, is an entity on Amazon that purposefully acts against third-party sellers in an attempt to hurt the business of those they target. Establishing and enforcing your intellectual property rights can protect you against black hat tactics....
A question we often get from Amazon Sellers is, “Can I sue Amazon”? Yes, you can sue Amazon. However, more than likely, you're going to have to go through arbitration rather than actual litigation. Taking legal action against Amazon is a serious step that requires careful consideration. Don't he...
If Amazon has frozen your account and is keeping your money, you should contact an attorney as quickly as possible. Amazon will likely try to negotiate with you directly. Any communication you have with Amazon can be used as evidence against you later. Securing legal counsel from the beginning c...