Trademark Trial and Appeal Board sets precedent

In a precedential decision, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board upheld the refusal of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to register the trademark J HUTTON on grounds that the mark is primarily merely a surname.

As Waller's Bob Felber describes in his article in INTABulletin, the applicant in this case "failed to present evidence that Jade Hutton was known as 'J Hutton' or that the relevant consumers would perceive J Hutton as identifying a specific individual."

To read the full article, go here.