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

Tue Dec 3 01:13:50 UTC 2024

Consent to use of a name in a trademark must be in writing, and must be submitted to the PTO.    Outside my hypothetical “Ms. Swift” owns an interest in both companies. There may, in fact, be unity of control in the more traditional sense of two companies under common control.

Kevin Grierson

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From: Daniel Kegan <dkegan at bhhlawfirm.com>
Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 6:50 PM
To: Oppedahl Carl <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

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One wonders a) how the permission was granted (oral, written, etc) and b) what the written or implied terms are.
Daniel Kegan
Kennett Square PA

On Dec 2, 2024, at 5:09 PM, 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.

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