Trademarks

• Semester: Spring 2023
• Course ID: 386T
• Credit Hours: 3
• Unique: 29120

Description

Same as LAW 350N, Trademarks.

Trademark law is a species of intellectual property and unfair competition law. Trademarks represent the goodwill (or reputation) of a business and its products/services. Businesses rely on trademarks to identify their goods/services, to indicate the source of those products/services, and to distinguish those products/services from the competition. Consumers rely on trademarks to distinguish products/services among competitors and as assurances of quality. Needless to say, trademarks are among a business’s most valuable assets.

This course delves into the fundamentals and modern-day application of U.S. trademark law. We will study the underlying principles of trademark law, the different types of trademarks, how trademark rights are acquired and lost, the scope and limits of those rights, the standards for determining whether a trademark violates the rights of another or deceives the public, the defenses and remedies available to parties in an action for trademark infringement or dilution, and an overview of the federal trademark registration process. Time permitting, we will also study closely related topics like trade dress, cybersquatting, counterfeit and gray market goods, false advertising, and the right of publicity.