Kaitlin Corey was interviewed by The Daily Record in a great compilation of advice and insights from women professionals on how to succeed. Here’s an excerpt:
“It goes without saying but in order to advance quickly in your career you have to work hard and be proactive,” Corey said. “So, while I do spend a good amount of time at my desk, I spend nearly an equal amount of time networking.”
Read the whole thing here: “What Does It Take for a Woman to Get to the Top.”
Congratulations to our partner Jim Astrachan on being selected by The Daily Record as a 2022 Icon Honors recipient.
The Icon Honors recognizes Maryland business leaders over the age of 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership within and outside their fields. The honorees have moved their businesses and the state of Maryland forward by growing jobs and making a difference in the community.
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West is in a dump truckload of trouble for, among other things, his display of a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt. The slogan’s so-called owners are calling him out for trademark infringement.
As bad as the politics might be, Ye, as he is now known, did no trademark harm. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as a general rule, will refuse to register a trademark if the submitted specimen shows that use of the mark is decorative or ornamental. A trademark must indicate a source of goods. Continue reading
Kaitlin Corey spoke with “Harford County Chamber Chat” a podcast hosted by the Harford County (MD) Chamber of Commerce on WHGM Gold. In the December 3, 2022 episode, Kaitlin discussed her intellectual property and business law practice at Goodell DeVries, the many services provided by the firm, and the value of Chamber membership. You can find the interview here or on your iHeart Radio app.
Chief Justice Warren Burger admonished the ABA in 1984, “Our litigation system is too costly, too painful, too destructive, too ineffective for a civilized people.” The Chief added, “For many claims trials by the adversarial contest must in time go the way of the ancient trial by battle and blood.” Copyright trademark and trade secret trials may be among the most expensive legal contests, and I am pretty sure the Chief would have recommended mediation.
The number of civil cases that reach trial in the federal courts is a very small percentage of the total cases filed; probably less than 5 percent. The road to settlement, however, can be long and very expensive. We can get these cases settled early on! Continue reading
The federal Lanham Act goes beyond trademark protection and establishes causes of action, as well, for unfair competition, false advertising, and false association. Section 43(a), however, does not contain a statute of limitations for claims that arise under the Lanham Act for any of these improper activities. That’s different from the Copyright and Patent Acts which each provide for limitations and apparently that’s the way Congress wants it.
This article originally appeared in the Association of Corporate Counsel: Baltimore’s Focus magazine (3Q2022, p. 7-9). Written by Jim Astrachan, Kaitlin Corey, and Donna Thomas.
A trademark infringement suit awarding Variety Stores $95 million dollars against Walmart is instructive as to what the courts in the Fourth Circuit require to establish trademark infringement and willful trademark infringement. Variety Stores, Inc. v. Walmart Inc., 852 Fed. Appx. 711 (4th Cir. 2021) (unpublished).
While the large monetary award has been resolved behind the scenes through a confidential settlement following Walmart’s successful appeal relating to the trial court’s jury instructions concerning whether Walmart acted willfully, the magnitude of the award and the Court’s explanation of what is required to establish trademark infringement are worthy of discussion. This is especially important for those who are called upon to advise their client about whether a trademark is clear and available for use. The analysis for clearing a trademark for use is similar to the analysis that applies to determining whether a client will succeed if it sues on the grounds of trademark infringement.
Law and Made to Order for the NMTC Board of Directors
Havre de Grace, MD – September 27, 2022 The NMTC is honored and pleased to have attorney Kaitlin Corey join its Board of Directors as Board Secretary and member of its four-person Executive Committee. Continue reading