Fall 2019 Course Description: This course provides an overview of trademark and unfair competition law. We will discuss the purpose of these laws, the requirements for trademark protection, and the scope and enforcement of trademark rights. Specifically, we will cover the concepts of distinctiveness, functionality, and use of a trademark; the procedural and substantive aspects of trademark registration; geographic limits on trademark rights; trademark infringement, dilution, cybersquatting, counterfeiting, false advertising, false endorsement, and the right of publicity; and defenses and remedies in trademark actions. Required Materials: Version 6.0 of Barton Beebe's free casebook Trademark Law: An Open-Source Casebook available at this link Reading and Writing Assignments: Introduction 8/20: Pages 10-32 of the casebook (CB); Optional:
Watch the USPTO’s Trademark Basic Facts videos at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/basics/index.jsp or read the Basic Facts About Trademarks booklet I. Establishing Trademark Rights 8/22: CB 33-69; Think of one brand that you like, and search for
that trademark by clicking “Search our trademark database (TESS)” at https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database 8/27: Class is cancelled and moved to 8/30 8/29: CB 56-93 8/30: CB 93-117 9/3: CB 117-47 9/5: CB 147-81 9/10: CB 179-206 9/12: CB 206-46; Optional: Listen to the podcast Lisa Ramsey on Trademark Law & the First Amendment, Ipse Dixit podcast (July 1, 2019), available at https://shows.pippa.io/ipse-dixit/episodes/lisa-ramsey-on-trademark-law-the-first-amendment 9/17: CB 246-68 9/19: CB 268-93 9/24: CB 293-323 9/26: CB 323-63 II. Enforcement of Trademark Rights 10/1: CB 360-90; Pom Wonderful v. Hubbard, 775 F.3d 1118 (9th Cir. 2014) 10/3: CB 400-39 10/8: CB 439-73; First writing assignment due 10/10: CB 473-93 10/15: CB 494-532 10/17: CB 532-63 10/22: CB 563-87 III. Defenses and Other Limits on Trademark Rights 10/24: CB 588-610 10/29: CB 610-33 10/31: CB 633-68 11/5: CB 669-701 IV. False Advertising 11/7: CB 702-39 11/12: CB 764-92 V. Right of Publicity 11/14: CB 792-816 VI. Remedies 11/19: CB 816-43 11/21: CB 844-62; second writing assignment due at 4 p.m. |