Partner Deborah Wilcox authored an article published in the November 2017 issue of Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal. The article, “Does A Rare Surname Make A Good Brand Name?”, explores the legal challenges that individuals and companies may face when they make their family names and their brand names one and the same. Wilcox delves into the specifics of why a surname is “an inherently weak trademark,” outlines the differences between The Principle Register and The Supplemental Register, and explains the facts weighed by The United States Patent & Trademark Office when considering surnames.
Read the article.