What are the defenses to trademark infringement?
The most common defenses in trademark infringement, unfair competition and trademark dilution suits include descriptive fair use, nominative fair use, laches, unclean hands and trademark misuse, fraud in obtaining the registration, and application of the First Amendment.
What are the Defences available to defendant in an infringement suit?
Remedies for trademark infringement
Injunction by prohibition of use of the infringing mark. Injunction by cancellation of the registration, if the mark has been registered. Damages (may include punitive damages) or account of profits. Costs towards legal fees.
How do you stop a trademark infringement?
If the trademark owner is able to prove infringement, available remedies may include the following:
- a court order (injunction) that the defendant stop using the accused mark;
- an order requiring the destruction or forfeiture of infringing articles;
What is the penalty for trademark infringement?
Damages and lost profits that can be as much as $150,000 per infringement. An injunction that will stop the unauthorized use of the copyrighted material. Prison time for the infringer. Recovery of attorney and court fees that must be paid by the defendant.
What is the standard for trademark infringement?
To prevail on a claim of trademark infringement, a plaintiff must establish that it has a valid mark entitled to protection; and that the defendant used the same or a similar mark in commerce in connection with the sale or advertising of goods or services without the plaintiff’s consent.
How do you defend against infringement?
Defenses to Copyright Infringement Claims
- Fair use doctrine.
- Proof the work was independently created and not copied.
- Innocence (proving there was no reason to believe the work was copyrighted)
- The use is with a license agreement in place (this can shift liability to the licensor)
How do you defend infringement?
Six steps to protect against copyright infringement claims
- Do not copy anything. …
- Avoid non-virgin development. …
- Avoid access to prior design work. …
- Document right to use. …
- Negotiate for enhanced warranty and indemnity clauses. …
- Document your own work.
How do you defend against patent infringement?
Prove that you are compliant, by data that shows you are not infringing, or argue that the asserted patent is invalid, if that be the case. Stop selling or making the infringed product. Negotiate licensing fees from the patent owner by cross asserting your patent portfolio (if the plaintiff is not an NPE).
What is an example of a trademark infringement?
One common example of trademark infringement is where clothing manufacturers attach brand labels to generic items, attempting to have them “pass off” as authentic. Trademark infringement violations are very serious and are often involve aspects of deceptive trade practices.
What is the difference between trademark dilution and infringement?
Dilution differs from normal trademark infringement in that there is no need to prove a likelihood of confusion to protect a mark. Instead, all that is required is that use of a “famous” mark by a third party causes the dilution of the “distinctive quality” of the mark.
What are the four major Lanham Act violations?
The Act prohibits a number of activities, including trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and false advertising.