California Trademark Attorneys Defend Clients Against Infringement Claims

Skilled intellectual property lawyers represent defendants in the Beverly Hills area

In a highly competitive marketplace, established companies use a variety of means to suppress emerging brands that threaten their market share. One of these tactics is a lawsuit for trademark infringement, where they attempt to strip a company of its right to use its logo, tagline, brand name or other identifier, and even press for monetary damages. If you have an emerging company looking to make a splash, you can’t afford to suffer such a reversal to your marketing efforts. The Kernan Law Firm, APC represents defendant companies in the Beverly Hills area and throughout California in disputes over trademark infringement. Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of California and federal law and know how to build a compelling case that protects your rights. If you are engaged in a dispute over a registered or unregistered trademark, we have the knowledge and experience to deliver optimal results.

Knowledgeable advisers explain how U.S. trademark law protects your commercial rights

To qualify for legal protection, a trademark must be used in commerce and must be distinctive. There are four categories of distinctiveness:

  • Arbitrary/fanciful — These marks bear no logical relationship to the underlying product but are inherently distinctive and through their use in commerce become indelibly associated with a particular company. Courts determine exclusive rights based only on priority of use.
  • Suggestive — These marks evoke or suggest a characteristic of the underlying product. As with arbitrary/fanciful marks, exclusive rights go to the first company to use them in commerce.
  • Descriptive — These marks overtly describe a characteristic or quality of the product. To qualify for protection, the mark must acquire a secondary meaning through its use in commerce. The buying public must primarily associate the mark with a particular company rather than a class of products.
  • Generic — Because generic marks refer to a general class of products rather than those coming from a unique source, the law does not protect them. A mark can be judged generic when first proposed or may become generic over time and therefore lose its legal protection.

A trademark need not be registered to have federal or state protection, but registered marks do enjoy numerous advantages. Registration serves as constructive notice of ownership nationwide, and the ownership may be incontestable after five years of continuous use.

Established counselors understand how courts determine infringement

Trademark infringement occurs when a company uses a mark that is similar enough to a protected trademark that the new mark is likely to cause confusion among the consuming public. Courts consider a number of factors in determining whether infringement exists, including:

  • The strength of the mark — Does the original mark have clear standing in the marketplace?
  • The proximity of the goods — Are the goods of the same general type?
  • The similarity of the marks — Do the marks appear similar?
  • The evidence of actual confusion — Have consumers bought the second product believing it to be the first?
  • The similarity of marketing channels used — Are the products sold or distributed in the same manner?
  • The degree of caution exercised by the typical purchaser — Is the consumer likely to make a casual purchase, or think twice before buying? The value of the item is a consideration for this factor.
  • The defendant's intent — Did the user of the allegedly infringing mark intend to deceive the public and unfairly take market share from its competitor?

In providing your defense, our firm will investigate the circumstances of the case against you to challenge the plaintiff's claims that seek to establish infringement in these areas.

Proven litigators provide viable defenses to trademark infringement

The two major defenses to trademark infringement are fair use and parody. The fair use defense is viable when one company uses another’s descriptive trademark in good faith simply to describe a quality of its product and no consumer confusion results. Parody allows artistic and editorial use of a trademark if the use is not tied directly to commerce.

A defendant can also argue that the plaintiff lost the right to a trademark due to abandonment, improper licensing or assignment, or because the mark has become generic.

If your company is found to have committed trademark infringement, you face crushing liability that could cost you any profits you’ve made and force you to indemnify your competitor's losses. If the court finds you acted in bad faith, such as deliberately attempting to deceive the public, it can order treble damages.

No law firm can guarantee a successful outcome, but The Kernan Law Firm, APC has a strong track record of delivering favorable outcomes for our business clients in trademark infringement cases.

Contact a dependable trademark litigation attorney in California

The Kernan Law Firm, APC provides quality legal representation to defendant companies throughout California in trademark infringement disputes. To schedule a consultation at our Beverly Hills office, call us at 310-905-6684 or contact us online.