Controlling Your Domain (Name) to Avoid a Domain Name Fumble

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Next week’s NFL Draft brings to mind a cautionary tale…

It could happen to any of us, and it almost happened to the Dallas Cowboys at a crucial time.  In the middle of the 2010 NFL season, buzz surrounding whether Cowboys’ head coach Wade Phillips was going to be fired (which was ultimately the case) was at an all-time high.  No doubt, fans, rivals and press were all scouring the internet for updates on the situation, and the Cowboys’ website was probably the prime online destination of the day. Unfortunately, the team forgot to renew the dallascowboys.com domain, and many would-be site visitors got error screens instead of highlights and instant replays. Talk about a game-changing fumble! See related article here.Blue Url Words Shows Org Biz Com Edu

It’s worth noting that the dallascowboys.com domain name was originally purchased in 1995 and probably was reserved for the longest possible time allowed.  Although most domain name registrars timely send email renewal reminders to domain name owners, it’s likely that whomever was initially responsible for the domain name was long gone and the renewal information didn’t get forwarded to the proper person (and, although auto-renew is available, the credit card info on file with the domain name registrar was probably no longer valid as well). It’s lucky that the ‘Boys became aware of the problem (which you might call an incomplete pass) and quickly renewed the domain before someone else (perhaps a disgruntled, recently fired coach) grabbed it and tried to hold it hostage.

At least Dallas Cowboys Football Club, Ltd. was listed as the domain name owner.  Many times, the person who originally registers the domain name (whether an employee of the organization or someone with the company hired to design the website) is listed as the owner of the domain name and the domain name is never officially transferred to the organization and/or the information doesn’t get updated…which can cause a host of problems for the organization utilizing the domain name (especially if the employee is terminated or if the development company relationship dissolves).

Although the Cowboys had a close call and almost wound up on the disabled list, this is a great example of how easy it can be for an organization to neglect (and almost lose) one of its most important intellectual property assets. We all know how valuable your website is to your business, so here’s what you should do to prepare your domain name offensive strategy…

If you have a website: 

(1)   Determine who is listed as the owner of your domain name.

To find out who owns your domain name and when the registration expires, type in the domain name (e.g., dallascowboys.com) in a WHOIS search database, such as InterNIC, Network Solutions, or GoDaddy.

(2)   Check to ensure that this information is correct. 

If the Administrative and/or Technical Contact information is not in your company’s name, you’ll want to update this information as quickly as possible.

You may need a Domain Name Transfer Agreement to perfect the chain of title for the domain name ownership.  (While you’re at it, you may also want to make sure you have a Website Development Agreement in place with any third-party web developer for the website associated with the domain name so you own/have rights to your web content and design.)

If the domain name is registered to one of your company’s employees or officers, add this to your employee exit checklist to ensure that this information is updated should the employee/officer leave the company.

A disgruntled/terminated employee or website developer with sole control of a company domain name can easily redirect internet, e-mail and intranet traffic within a matter of moments and bring business to a standstill.

(3)   Calendar a reminder for the domain name renewal date.  

The expiration date for the domain name registration is listed in the WHOIS information (see #1 above).

 

Unusual Trademarks Hiding in Plain Sight

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Most people usually think of a trademark as a word, slogan or logo associated with a specific company, creative project, product or service (and often the quality of the products or services).  For example, some people strongly prefer consuming soft drinks labeled 220px-Pepsi_logo_svg  as opposed to coke-logo-1, while others would only buy tennis shoes marked with Nikeinstead of Adidas_Logoor logo_REEBOK_ICON_1 , and some may prefer this band  Rolling-Stones-Wallpaper-classic-rock-17732124-1024-768 to this one grateful_dead_bear-265x300.  However, a trademark can consist of almost anything that is used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one entity from those manufactured, sold or provided by others. You might have a mark worthy of protection and don’t even realize it.  Perhaps your mark:

Sounds like a trademark…

There are registered marks for chimes, sayings associated with animated characters, and even theme songs.  Universal TV LLV has a registration that consists of “two musical notes, a strike and a rapid rearticulation of a perfect fifth pitch interval, which in the key of C sounds the notes C and G, struck concurrently” used in connection with the “entertainment services, namely, a series of on-going dramatic television programs”…although you probably know it better as the NBC Chimes.

Whether or not you eat carbs, you are likely familiar with the Pillsbury Doughboy.  If you’re reading this blog, you would likely recognize Yahoo!  And you might get excited when you hear this from your computer.  If you use a sound in connection with your products or services that (1) does not serve any functional purpose in connection with the products or services, (2) is not a natural by-product of the products or services, and (3) is not used by competitors or applicant’s industry in connection with the goods or services, you likely have something distinctive that consumers will associate with your products or services.  For more examples of sound marks, click here.

Smells like a trademark…

If Smead Manufacturing made apple cider, peppermint, vanilla, peach, lavender, and grapefruit scented lotion, they probably couldn’t protect the fragrance because it would be considered to serve a utilitarian purpose and be functional in connection with the product…but it’s a different story when those scents are used in connection with “office supplies, namely, file folders, hanging folders, paper expanding files.”  And, if you don’t like the smell of regular “medicated transdermal patches for the temporary relief of aches and pains of muscles and joints associated with arthritis, simple backaches, strains, bruises and sprains,” then you may want to try some that have “a minty scent by mixture of highly concentrated methyl salicylate (10wt%) and menthol (3wt%)”.

Looks like a trademark…

I don’t know of many women who wouldn’t immediately recognized a box or bag in a specific “shade of blue often referred to as robin’s-egg blue” as coming from the famous jeweler Tiffany & Co. The color pink for “foam insulation for use in building and construction” is registered to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Technology Inc. Of course, Coca-Cola has protected its iconic bottle designCoke_Bottle for decades…and the Oscar award statuetteAcademy_Award_trophyis also protected.

Feels like a trademark…

American Wholesale Wine & Spirits, Inc. has a mark which consists of “a velvet textured covering on the surface of a bottle of wine” for use in connection with wines.

Tastes like a trademark…????

Not yet…and potentially never.  The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has observed that it is unclear how a flavor could function as a source indicator because flavor or taste generally performs a utilitarian function, and consumers generally have no access to a product’s flavor or taste prior to purchase.  In re N.V. Organon, 79 USPQ2d 1639 (TTAB 2006) (affirming refusal to register “an orange flavor” for “pharmaceuticals for human use, namely, antidepressants in quick-dissolving tablets and pills,” on the grounds that the proposed mark was functional under §2(e)(5) and failed to function as a mark within the meaning of §§1, 2, and 45 of the Trademark Act.).

Obtaining registration for some of these more unusual marks (usually categorized as trade dress) are more likely to require a showing of evidence of “acquired distinctiveness” (proof that the mark has become adequately associated in consumers’ minds with the mark owner’s goods or services) than more traditional marks.  However, don’t let that discourage you.  By opening your mind and looking for marks outside of the traditional name, logo or slogan categories, you just may find a sound, color, scent or other sensory trigger that strongly appeals to your customers or fans and turns out to be something that helps you stand out from the crowd and gets you a step ahead of the competition.

 

Is Coke’s Trade Secret Out of the Can?

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stamp-143799_1280In early 2011, the public radio show This American Life created an international media frenzy when it revealed what it believed to be the original recipe for Coca-Cola.

The “secret formula” for Coca-Cola — which has been locked away in a bank vault at the Trust Company Bank in Atlanta since at least 1925 — is one of the most famous and highly guarded trade secrets in the world.  Supposedly, only two company executives know the recipe at any one time and they are never allowed to fly on an airplane together in case of a crash.  (For more on the rumors and lore surrounding Coke’s secret formula, visit urban myth-busing website Snopes.com.) So, after 125 years of secrecy, how did a public radio show get hold of such a well-protected and highly-coveted corporate gem?  Did This American Life break into the vault or kidnap and tickle-torture one of the two executives until he talked?  No.  They opened a newspaper.  Apparently, the photo used to illustrate the story published in The Atlanta Journal and Constitution on February 18, 1979, was a hand-written copy of (Coke’s inventor) John Pemberton’s recipe circa 1886.  Talk about adding insult to injury!

This American Life has clarified its position on the recipe printed in the paper, stating that it believes the recipe is Pemberton’s original recipe or a version of Coca-Cola that he made either before or after the product hit the market in 1886, and not the recipe used today.  Perhaps this is because they tested the recipe and determined that it wasn’t quite the same as the Coca-Cola we know today, and, of course, The Coca-Cola Company denies that the secret is out.

Although you may not go to quite the lengths taken by The Coca-Cola Company to protect your trade secrets, you should consider what measures (if any) you are taking to safeguard your “information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process that: (i) derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.” (Definition from Uniform Trade Secrets Act.)

Trade secrets — which often include recipes, sales methods, distribution methods, consumer profiles, advertising strategies, lists of suppliers and clients, and manufacturing processes — provide an enterprise a competitive edge and can last for as long as they are kept secret.  So, you would never want to include your trade secrets in a copyright or patent application, as they will be disclosed once the application or registration is published.

Although whether something truly constitutes a trade secret will depend on the circumstances of each individual case, for something to qualify and be protected as a trade secret:

  • The information must be secret (i.e., it is not generally known among, or readily accessible to, circles that normally deal with the type of information in question).
  • It must have commercial value because it is a secret.
  • It must have been subject to reasonable steps by the rightful holder of the information to keep it secret (e.g., through confidentiality agreements).

 

Misleading and Unsolicited Trademark Service and Fee Requests

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Filing a trademark application in the United States or a foreign country typically results in trademark owners receiving unsolicited notices, invoices, and other communications from U.S. and foreign companies requesting fees for trademark-related services, such as trademark monitoring and document filing.  Although these documents and invoices often look “official” and contain customer-specific information (such as the trademark serial or registration number and owner name), companies that offer these services are not affiliated or associated with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) or any other federal agency.car-44144_1280

If you receive an invoice related to your trademarks, you should verify its authenticity with your trademark attorney, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or the Intellectual Property Office through which your mark is registered before remitting payment and to discuss your options in more detail.

Unless the communication comes directly from (1) the USPTO, (2) a foreign trademark agency equivalent, or (3) your trademark attorney, these notices and invoices are likely unsolicited third party advertisements for services that you may not need or that may not provide you with adequate protection for your trademarks.  The USPTO and the WIPO have issued warnings related to these unsolicited requests for payment of fees.  WIPO has databases containing samples of misleading invoices and similar announcements issued by various countries.

You may file a complaint about these types of solicitations with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

 

How to Protect Titles of Creative Works

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Although movies, TV shows, art, books, musibooks-498422_1280c, lyrics and recordings are protected by copyright, the titles, names and tag lines associated with these types of creative works do not qualify for copyright protection. However, in certain instances, titles of creative works may be protectable as trademarks.

For example, you cannot register a trademark for the title, or a portion of a title, of a single creative work (such as a book, a television episode, a film, a live theatre production, or a phonograph record).  [NOTE: Computer software and computer games are not treated as single creative works.]

However, if the title has been (or will be) used in connection with a series of creative works (e.g., a series of books, the second edition of a book with significant changes, a periodically issued magazine, a television or movie series, a series of live performances [such as by a musical artist], educational seminars, or a continuing radio program), it may constitute a mark for either entertainment or educational services.

For more information about how to protect titles, here’s an article I wrote entitled “A Different Kind of Title Insurance: How to Protect Titles of Creative Works” that was published in Bloomberg BNA’s Patent, Trademark and Copyright Journal.

 

Intellectual Property Overview

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Here’s a quick overview about copyrights, trademarks, patents and other types of intellectual property…

COPYRIGHTS –iStock_000040071288Medium Copyrights protect creative works.

Technically, copyrights protect “original works of authorship” that are “fixed in any tangible medium of expression,” such as literary and musical works; pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works; computer software; motion pictures and other audiovisual works; sound recordings; and architectural works. Copyright protection exists from the moment the work is written down, recorded, photographed, etc.

Copyright protection usually lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years. Copyrights are protected by U.S. federal law (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.) and international treaty. (Note: You do not have to file for a copyright registration to have federal copyright protection…but there are several advantages to obtaining a registration.)  For more information, visit www.copyright.gov.

TRADEMARKS – Trademarks are brand names and logos that are used on products or in connection with services.

A trademark is a word, phrase, name, slogan, tagline, logo, domain name, symbol, device, or any combination of these, which is used (or intended to be used) in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one entity from those sold or provided by others, and to indicate the source of the goods or services. A trademark also stands as a symbol of the quality which people expect in products sold and services provided in connection with a mark.

Trademarks can include trade names, logos, domain names, 800 numbers, advertising slogans, jingles, and store designs.

Trademark protection can last as long as a mark is used in commerce. Trademarks are protected by common law, state law, U.S. federal law (15 U.S.C. §§ 1051-1141n) and the laws of individual foreign countries. For more information, visit http://www.uspto.gov/.

Service Marks – A service mark is basically the same as a trademark except that it identifies a service instead of a product. For practical purposes, the same rules apply to service marks as apply to trademarks.

Trade Dress – A product’s trade dress, which includes product features and configurations such as shape, texture, size, color and packaging, may also be protected if it is “nonfunctional.” A feature is functional if it is necessary to a product’s utility, or affects its cost and/or method of manufacture. However, if other, different physical features can perform the same function without sacrificing a functional advantage, the design may be considered nonfunctional.

Trade Names – A trade name is the name under which an entity does business, such as Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP.  A trade name encompasses the reputation of the entire business while trademarks and service marks identify specific products and services sold by that business. No particular notice or usage is required for trade names.  It is usually not proper to use the trademark symbol with the trade name.

PATENTS – Patents protect inventions and improvements to existing inventions.

A patent is a property right granted to an inventor by the government.  Patents can be granted to anyone who “invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.” Patents confer the right “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in or “importing” the invention into the U.S. for a limited time in exchange for public disclosure of the invention when the patent is granted.

Utility Patents – A utility patent covers an invention of a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.  (Protection lasts 20 years from patent application filing date.)

Design Patents – A design patent covers a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.  (Protection lasts 14 years from date patent issues.)

Patents are protected by U.S. federal law (35 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) and the laws of individual foreign countries. For more information, visit http://www.uspto.gov/.

TRADE SECRETS – A trade secret generally includes any information that derives independent economic value from not being generally known or reasonably ascertainable, and is the subject of reasonable efforts to maintain its secrecy.

Trade secret protection can last as long as the secret is kept. Trademarks are protected by common law, state law (most states follow the Uniform Trade Secret Protection Act), U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1839(3)) and the laws of individual foreign countries.  Practically, trade secrets are usually maintained through nondisclosure and noncompete agreements.