Cracker Barrel Trademark Battle Kraft Foods and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store are in a heated legal battle over the rights to the trademark CRACKER BARREL. This case is interesting not only because of the fame and reach of both companies, but also because the parties have been using variations of the “Cracker Barrel” name since the 1940s (in the case of Kraft Foods’ “Cracker Barrel Cheese”) and the 1960s (in the case of the Cracker Barrel restaurants). While it’s common for identical marks to be used in connection with separate types of goods and services, this case illustrates the…
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Archives: Trademarks
Can You Sue the BBB for an F?
March 20, 2013
Can You Sue the BBB for an F? Can you sue the Better Business Bureau for giving your business an “F?” And why should all consumer-facing businesses care take note of this issue?
Will the Sequester Affect my Trademark Application?
March 5, 2013
Will the Sequester Affect my Trademark Application? As part of the endless series of Washington financial hijinks, the so-called sequester went into effect last Thursday, February 28. The sequester is a series of spending cuts amounting to $1.2 trillion over nine years, with $85 billion coming due in the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Given that these cuts impact all sorts of Federal agencies, I couldn’t help but think about the poor, neglected US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Will trademark applications be impacted by the sequester?
Craft Beer Trademark Battles
February 27, 2013
Craft Beer Trademark Battles As many of my readers are already aware, San Diego has become known as one of the world’s top producers of craft beer. Time Magazine recently referred to SD as “the hoppiest place on earth.” Our local media and elected officials can’t stop talking about all of the jobs, revenue, and recognition brought to San Diego by this booming industry. As a San Diego resident for most of my life, I can’t help but be attuned to this phenomenon. So I tend to pay special attention when trademark issues arise in the craft beer business. A…
