Some people in New Jersey enjoy drinking Monster Energy drinks to pep up in the middle of the day, but they may not know that the company has developed a reputation for aggressive trademark enforcement. While companies have a responsibility to protect their intellectual privacy, some have questioned Monster's eagerness to pursue potential trademark violations that seem to be far from the company's primary area of work. In addition, the company is often unsuccessful in its trademark cases, especially those that seem to be a significant reach outside its registered area of protection.
Trademark filing by university denied by patent office
Attempts to file for and receive trademarks are common among organizations throughout New Jersey and the rest of the United States. While some requests may sound unusual, there are many reasons to seek trademark approval.
WeWork CEO returns trademark payment
WeWork is a popular brand for co-working spaces, attracting freelancers, small businesses and even outposts of large corporations to share office space at its locations in New Jersey and across the country. The company has been criticized, however, for its corporate structure. One area of criticism has been the relationship with the company's founder and CEO. Following media reports, the company's CEO recently returned around $5.9 million worth of stock options that he had received earlier. The CEO was paid in stock options for the company to acquire the trademark "We," which had originally been held by a smaller company controlled by the chief executive officer and his co-founder.
Ariana Grande sues Forever 21 over alleged copyright infringement
New Jersey residents who follow developments in the entertainment industry may know that Ariana Grande has taken legal action against the fashion retailer Forever 21 and its beauty products spinoff brand Riley Rose. In her lawsuit, the popular singer claims that the California-based company used images of her without consent and even went so far as to hire a look-alike model in order to fool the public. Grande is seeking damages of $10 million for alleged copyright and trademark infringement.
