[E-trademarks] Unity of control--celebrity allowing use of name on products

[Kevin Grierson]

The two different beverage companies, with permission given by T-Swift to each for the use of her name in the marks.


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From: Nancy Prager <nancyprager at yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 5:31 PM
To: e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com
Cc: Kevin Grierson <kgrierson at cm.law>
Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Unity of control--celebrity allowing use of name on products

EXTERNAL EMAIL
Great question.  Is the celebrity the applicant or are two different beverage companies?

On Monday, December 2, 2024 at 05:11:13 PM EST, Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>> wrote:



Got a refusal with an interesting twist.  Here’s the scenario: celebrity (let’s say Taylor Swift) gives permission to an entity to use her name for, say wine, that entity registers WINE BY TAYLOR SWIFT.  Then she gives permission to a different entity to use her name in connection with beer.  USPTO issues a refusal for BEER BY TAYLOR SWIFT based on prior wine registration.  Ownership issues aside, can you argue “unity of control” if Taylor is, in fact exercising quality control over both products even though they are manufactured by different entities?  The TMEP sections on unity of control don’t seem to address this issue.



Kevin Grierson<https://www.culhanemeadows.com/attorney/kevin-grierson/>

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 kgrierson at cm.law<mailto:kgrierson at cm.law>



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