[E-trademarks] Surname as part of composite mark

[daniel at keganlaw.com]

"has to be considered a “distinctive” element”
Not necessarily. Depends on the relative sizes, color, etc—all the prominence, dominance
factors. As is often said, tm law is fact specific. Tiny use of even a registered design
mark with a big, bold, bright text, likely the tex dominates. Reverse with tiny text, and
the design might dominate. Straight text wordmark, protects in any size, style, etc.
Design marks less potent. Consider the mark as a whole.

Daniel Kegan

> On Nov 8, 2024, at 4:28 PM, Jessica R. Friedman via E-trademarks <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks all. I shouldn’t have used a heart as an example, because the design component I’m dealing with is a registered trademark of the client’s, and, therefore, I think it has to be considered a “distinctive” element, which, combined with the surname, results in a mark that is not primarily merely a surname.
>  
> Jessica R. Friedman
> Attorney at Law
> 300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406
> New York, NY 10022
> Phone: 212-220-0900
> Cell: 917-647-1884
> E-mail: jrfriedman at litproplaw.com <mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
> URL: www.literarypropertylaw.com <http://www.literarypropertylaw.com/>
>  
> <image001.png>
>  
>  
> From: daniel at keganlaw.com <mailto:daniel at keganlaw.com> <daniel at keganlaw.com <mailto:daniel at keganlaw.com>>
> Date: Friday, November 8, 2024 at 3:56 PM
> To: Oppedahl Carl <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com <mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>>
> Cc: Jessica R. Friedman <jrfriedman at litproplaw.com <mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>>
> Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Surname as part of composite mark
> 
> s"Primarily merely a surname.”
>  
> There’s case law of (largely subjective evaluation), eg relative dominance of design v text.
>  
> Daniel Kegan
> Kennett Sq PA
> <daniel at keganlaw.com <mailto:daniel at keganlaw.com>>
> 
> 
> On Nov 8, 2024, at 3:37 PM, Jessica R. Friedman via E-trademarks <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com <mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>> wrote:
>  
> This is a “d’uh” question, but I’ve been going around and around with a difficult client and annoying facts, so I’m going to ask it anyway.
>  
> Let’s say I apply to register a logo that consists of a heart and the name FRIEDMAN. Am I not going to get a surname objection, even though FRIEDMAN is only one component of the logo? And if I can’t prove distinctiveness, there is not going to be any way to overcome that objection except by disclaiming FRIEDMAN?
>  
> I would love to be wrong here, so please speak up.
>  
> Jessica R. Friedman
> Attorney at Law
> 300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406
> New York, NY 10022
> Phone: 212-220-0900
> Cell: 917-647-1884
> E-mail: jrfriedman at litproplaw.com <mailto:jrfriedman at litproplaw.com>
> URL: www.literarypropertylaw.com <http://www.literarypropertylaw.com/>
>  
> <image001.png>
>  
>  
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