Lanham Act – 15 U.S.C. §§1114, 1125(a)
| Statute | Coverage | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| §1114 (15 U.S.C.) | Registered товарный знак нарушение | Use in commerce of registered mark or colorable imitation likely to cause confusion |
| §1125(a)(1)(A) | False designation of origin / unregistered mark нарушение | Use of mark likely to cause confusion as to origin, sponsorship, or approval (no registration required) |
| §1125(a)(1)(B) | False advertising | False or misleading commercial statements about own or competitor's products |
| §1125(c) | Товарный Знак dilution (famous marks only) | Use causing blurring or tarnishment of famous mark |
| Remedy | Details |
|---|---|
| Injunctive relief | Permanent injunction barring future use of infringing mark |
| Ответчик's profits | Infringer's profits attributable to нарушение (you prove revenue; they prove expenses) |
| Your actual убытки | Lost sales, licensing fees, harm to reputation |
| Costs | Судебный Процесс costs awarded to prevailing party |
| Адвокат's fees | Available in "exceptional cases" (недобросовестность, willful нарушение) |
| Treble убытки | Суд may increase убытки up to 3× in exceptional cases |
| Destruction of infringing materials | Суд orders destruction of goods, packaging, labels, signs bearing infringing mark |
Courts use multi-factor tests (varies by circuit) to evaluate likelihood of confusion. Common factors:
| Factor | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 1. Strength of your mark | Fanciful/arbitrary marks (strongest); suggestive; descriptive (weak); generic (no protection) |
| 2. Similarity of marks | Sight, sound, meaning, commercial impression; dominant elements |
| 3. Proximity of goods/services | Same industry? Complementary products? Overlapping distribution channels? |
| 4. Likelihood consumers will bridge the gap | Will you expand into ответчик's market? Have you licensed mark for related goods? |
| 5. Доказательства of actual confusion | Misdirected customer contacts, surveys, social media confusion (very strong доказательства) |
| 6. Ответчик's intent | Did ответчик adopt mark to trade on your goodwill? (Suggests недобросовестность) |
| 7. Quality of ответчик's goods | If inferior quality associated with your mark, reputational harm |
| 8. Sophistication of consumers | Sophisticated B2B purchasers less likely confused than general consumers |
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Your товарный знак rights | Mark, registration no. (if registered), classes, first use date, incontestable status if applicable |
| Описание of infringing use | Ответчик's mark, where it appears (website, products, social media), goods/services offered |
| Likelihood-of-confusion analysis | Highlight strongest factors: identical/similar marks, overlapping goods, actual confusion if any |
| Legal consequences | Reference §§1114, 1125(a); remedies (injunction, profits, убытки, treble убытки, fees in exceptional cases) |
| Demand | Cease use by [date]; transfer domain; destroy materials; payment if applicable |
| Business alternatives | Offer phase-out schedule, co-existence if appropriate, licensing for legitimate continued use |
| Response deadline | 14–21 days; state intent to file federal судебный иск if no response |
| Defense | When It Applies |
|---|---|
| Нет likelihood of confusion | Marks are not similar; goods/services are unrelated; different channels/geographies; sophisticated consumers |
| Fair use – descriptive | Your use describes your goods/services in their ordinary meaning, not as a товарный знак (e.g., "sharp" for knives) |
| Fair use – nominative | You use their mark to refer to their product (e.g., "compatible with [BRAND]" or comparative advertising) |
| Prior use / senior rights | You used the mark in commerce before they did (common law rights trump later federal registration in your geographic area) |
| Generic or descriptive mark | Their mark is weak or not protectable; crowded field |
| Abandonment | They stopped using the mark for 3+ years with intent not to resume |
| Laches | They unreasonably delayed enforcing rights while you built up your brand |
| First Amendment | Your use is expressive (parody, commentary, artistic work) |
1. Immediate Rebrand (if weak position):
2. Negotiate Coexistence:
3. Assert Defenses / Refuse to Comply:
4. File Declaratory Judgment Action:
I represent товарный знак owners seeking to enforce their rights and businesses defending against нарушение claims. Whether you need to protect your brand or respond to a cease-and-desist letter, I provide strategic counsel to achieve the best outcome.
Book a call to discuss your товарный знак matter. I'll review the facts, assess нарушение and defenses, and recommend a strategy for enforcement or resolution.
Generate a professional требование, CA суд исковое заявление, or арбитраж demand
Email: owner@terms.law
Estimate potential убытки in your товарный знак нарушение case. Under 15 U.S.C. Section 1117, товарный знак owners can recover the infringer's profits, actual убытки, and in exceptional cases, treble убытки and адвокат's fees.