Target, one of the biggest and most popular big-box store in the country is facing a lawsuit from a small business owner. Emily Golub, an entrepreneur from Georgia, accuses Target of infringing her trademark through the launch of its Good & Gather food brand in September 2019. Golub is the owner of Garnish & Gather, an Atlanta-based company that promotes local foods, meal kits, and prepared items developed by local chefs. She says that the name of Target's line is too similar to that of her company and could lead to serious confusion in terms of brand recognition among consumers. Golub's complaint against Target seeks a temporary restraining order to prohibit the sale of food and beverage products bearing the Good & Gather label.
Target in trademark dispute with small business
Patent lawsuits hit major auto companies
Many people enjoy connecting their mobile phones and other devices to the entertainment system in their vehicles through an onboard connector or, more frequently, a Bluetooth connection. However, Blitzsafe Texas has filed 15 lawsuits within four years claiming that major automobile manufacturers are infringing on its patents for technology that does exactly that. Blitzsafe Texas is headquartered in the town of Marshall, a community that is perhaps best-known as the location where one of the greatest numbers of patent infringement lawsuits are filed in the country. After the Supreme Court ruled that patent-infringement plaintiffs could not simply choose the venue where their cases are filed, some firms with many cases moved there, qualifying them to select that venue.
Five Invention Mistakes
Backcountry.com faces backlash over trademark lawsuits
Outdoor enthusiasts might be surprised to learn that Backcountry.com is facing heavy public backlash for filing a series of lawsuits against other businesses with similar names. The retail giant trademarked the word "backcountry" in 2018 to protect its new line of outdoor clothing and equipment.
Singer Katy Perry locked in intellectual property disputes
California native singer Katy Perry is known around the world for her catchy, pop-oriented tunes. However, she is now involved in several intellectual property disputes in both the United States and Australia. An Australian fashion designer named Katie Perry is suing the singer for launching her own clothing line in Australia, claiming that she owns the trademark on the term "Katie Perry" for clothing sold in Australia. Katie Perry claims that the singer's stage name, Katy Perry, could easily be confused with her brand within the market, and that the singer is infringing her trademark.
Beer industry brews many intellectual property disputes
Craft breweries have become a common part of the business landscape in California, and their product names and labels have increasingly become the subject of intellectual property infringement litigation. Their marketing tactics may run afoul of other breweries, but sometimes brewers trigger conflict with other brands. Such is the case right now for Anheuser-Busch, who has been sued by Patagonia. Similarly, the musicians of Guns 'N' Roses have taken legal action against Canarchy over their Oskar Blues Guns 'N' Rosé ale.
