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February 08, 2008

Terminated Donut Franchise

Dunkin Donuts is a franchisor. If a franchisee allegedly breaches its agreement such that Dunkin terminates the license, and the licensee continues to use the trademarks, then in addition to any contractual claims, there may be trademark claims as well:

Dunkin Donuts v. Bakery Maestro, 1:08-cv-00659-RBK-JS (D NJ Feb 6 2008) (excerpted complaint).

November 01, 2006

Ouch

Someone asked on the INTA discussion list: how much does a survey for use in litigation cost and someone replied:

"Just did a likelihood of confusion survey conducted over telephone with
137 professional respondents and the cost was $48,000. Does not include
any depositions or trial testimony."

The deposition or trial testimony referred to is where the other side calls your survey expert names.

Note to people who haven't had the pleasure of commissioning litigation surveys - phone surveys tend to cost less than the face to face surveys that involve printed materials.

October 05, 2006

Award of Both Patent And TM Damages Impermissible Double Recovery

Patently-O: "Jury Award of Both Patent and Trademark Damages Was Impermissible Dobule Recovery" ($6.8 million award against Wal-Mart knocked down to $5.9m).

May 16, 2006

"Injunction Junction: Law Note On Equitable Relief In Trademark Law"

Duke Law & Technology Review iBrief: "Injunction Junction: Remembering The Proper Function and Form Of Equitable Relief In Trademark Law."

Abstract: Injunctions are supposed to be among the most extraordinary remedies in the American judicial system, yet they have become anything but rare in trademark litigation. Although the unique nature of trademark protection may explain the frequency of injunctive relief, the process by which this relief is issued is rapidly devolving into rubber-stamping by the courts. This iBrief argues that courts should (1) recommit themselves to the principles of equity before granting injunctions and (2) seriously apply the specificity requirements of Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to avoid overly broad orders.