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IP News

Chrome Hearts Voluntarily Dismisses Trademark Lawsuit Against Neil Young’s Band “The Chrome Hearts”

On May 14, 2026, luxury brand Chrome Hearts voluntarily dismissed its trademark suit against Neil Young's backing band 'The Chrome Hearts.' The case, filed the previous year, centered on apparel-class conflicts with artist merchandise. Young plans to keep the band's name and continue touring and releases under it.
2026.05.18 パテント探偵社 編集部
IP News
Trademark Updates

USPTO Moves to Cancel 10,500 Trademark Filings Tied to Forged Signatures, Phantom Fees, and Double-Billing Schemes

The USPTO on May 12, 2026 published a trademark alert detailing 11 administrative orders issued since October 2025, invalidating or targeting roughly 10,500 trademark filings tied to forged signatures, double billing and phantom fees. Targets include Shenzhen Huanyee IP, Swift Brand Mark and Deputy Trademark.
2026.05.18 パテント探偵社 編集部
Trademark Updates
IP News

China’s CNIPA Releases 2026 IP Administrative Protection Work Plan: Tighter Export Controls and Emerging Technology Focus

China's National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released its 2026 Intellectual Property Administrative Pro...
2026.04.11 パテント探偵社 編集部
IP News
Trademark Updates

The ‘io’ Trademark Dispute That Derailed OpenAI’s AI Hardware Launch — What It Reveals About IP Strategy for Tech Giants Entering Hardware

OpenAI and Jony Ive's 'io' AI device was delayed to 2027 and the brand name abandoned following a Ninth Circuit trademark ruling. An analysis of the iyO v. IO Products dispute and the IP preemption strategy considerations for AI companies entering the hardware market.
2026.04.09 パテント探偵社 編集部
Trademark Updates
Column

Steinway’s Patents Expired Long Ago. So Why Can’t Anyone Replicate Their Dominance?

Steinway & Sons holds no active patents that cover the core technologies of its concert grand pianos. The overstrung pla...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Column
Column

Can a Color Be a Trademark? Le Creuset’s Orange and the Legal Requirements for Color Mark Registration

In 1995, the United States Supreme Court confirmed that a single color can function as a trademark. The decision in Qual...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Column
Company Analysis

Why Takashi Murakami Treats IP as an Art Form: Trademark, Copyright, and Licensing as Creative Strategy

Takashi Murakami is simultaneously one of the most commercially successful contemporary artists and one of the most stra...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Company Analysis
Company Analysis

The Birkin Isn’t Protected by a Patent — It’s Protected by Trade Dress: Hermès’s IP Strategy

The Hermès Birkin bag has no active patent protection. Its iconic silhouette cannot be exclusively claimed through desig...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Company Analysis
Company Analysis

When a Car Shape Becomes a Trademark: Ferrari, Porsche, and Jeep’s Design IP Strategies

When a car’s shape becomes recognizable without its logo, that form may deserve legal protection. Ferrari’s distinctive ...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Company Analysis
Company Analysis

Gibson’s 15-Year Quest to Trademark a Guitar Body Shape — The Limits of 3D Trade Dress Protection

For over 15 years, Gibson Brands has pursued trademark and trade dress protection for the iconic body shapes of its Les ...
2026.04.03 パテント探偵社 編集部
Company Analysis