Trademark and Unfair Comp. Boston College Law School January 14, 2009 Introduction.
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Transcript of Trademark and Unfair Comp. Boston College Law School January 14, 2009 Introduction.
Topics
• Case: Quality Inns v. McDonalds• Theories for Protection• Context
– Brief History of Trademark– Sources of Law– Institutional Structure
• Course Roadmap• Administrative Details
Why Protect Trademarks?
1. Protect consumers from confusion
2. Provide incentives for investing in quality
3. Prevent other companies from free-riding
4. Reward companies for their labor
5. Protect value of trademark (and associated goodwill) as a good in itself
Costs of Trademark Protection
1. May raise costs of competition
2. May hurt consumers
3. May harm free speech interests
Competing Visions of Brands
• The case for– Provides information to consumers– Ensures quality of product– Creates valuable associations consumers want
• The case against– Creates artificial distinctions, raising prices– Encourages unhealthy wants & desires– No need for additional legal protection
Trademark Law - Context
• Historical Context
• Sources of Trademark Law
• Institutional Framework
• Comparison With Other I.P.
History - Early MarksPottery Stamps
Crete
c. 2000 B.C.
Brick Stamps
Rome
c. 10 B.C.
Paper Watermarks
Europe
c. 13th century
Silversmith Marks
U.S.
c. 18-19th century
History - Early Purposes
• Form of advertising
• Used to prove source of goods
• Guarantee of quality
History - U.S. Trademark Act• Pre-1870: state common law protection• 1870: first federal trademark act
– Based on Copyright and Patent Clause– Struck down in Trade-Mark Cases, 100 U.S. 82 (1879)
• 1881: new federal trademark statute– Based on Commerce Clause– Upheld as valid exercise of commerce power
• 1946: Lanham Act• 1996: Anti-Dilution Act
History - I.P. Clause
• U.S. Const. Art. I, sec. 8: Congress shall have the power:– “to promote the Progress of Science and useful
Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
Sources of Trademark Law
• State Common Law and Statutes– State law not preempted (unlike copyright/pat.)– Can register trademarks in each state
• Federal Protection Under Lanham Act– Provides process for registering marks federally– Provides protection for registered marks– Also provides protection for unregistered marks
Institutional Framework• Patent and Trademark Office
– Registers trademarks– Adjudicates trademark registration disputes (T.T.A.B.)
• Appeals from registration denials• Opposition or cancellation proceedings
• Federal Courts– Appeals from trademark registration adjudication– Infringement actions under Lanham Act
• State Courts– Infringement actions under state and federal law
Comparison with Other I.P.Copyright Patent Trademark
SubjectMatter
Creative works(books, music, movies,software, etc.)
Innovation(inventions, processes,methods, etc.)
Product identifiers(names, logos,slogans, etc.)
Length ofProtection
Life + 70 years 20 years from filing As long as used
Requirementsfor Protection
Originality andfixation
Novelty, nonobvious-ness, utility; pre-approval process
Distinctive-ness, use incommerce
Scope No copying, publicperformance, publicdisplay, derivativeworks
No use, sale, creation,manufacture;independent discoverynot a defense
No likelihood ofconfusion, dilutionof famous marks
Contact Information
• Office Hours– Location: East Wing, 313– Hours: Mon. 1:30-3 p.m., or by appointment
• E-Mail– [email protected]
• Phone– 617-552-6377