"Trademarks in Trouble! First the Izod Crocodile, now the Polo Player. Is Nothing Sacred?"

http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/fashion-inc/2008/03/06/trademarks-in-trouble-first-the-izod-crocodile-now-the-polo-player-is-nothing-sacred

This article states that the US Polo Association was sued by Ralph Lauren for the use of the polo player on their apparel. However, the courts ruled that the US Polo Association can continue to use the polo player. So this brough forth more issues. Including, Izod sued a dental group from the UK for the use of the crocodile in their logo. The dentists stated that they only used the crocodile because of the association between crocodiles having so many teeth- not to infringe on Izod's marks. The writer of the article jokes about Tommy Hilfiger suing the US Armed Forces for the use of the United States Flag, which I thought was pretty funny, because it just seems that everything is trying to be trademarked anymore.

This relates back to class because it's about trademarks and how just subtle differences can change the decision. I think in the case of the dental group and Izod, that shouldn't have even went to trial because they are clearly two different types of goods/services. I thought that was one of the 8 steps in deciding trademark infringement.

"PR Firm Proposes ICICLE as Light Rail Nickname

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5956336&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

This article is about the Minnesota railway system and their proposed names for it. They have to make sure that none of them are trademarked before using it. Proposed names are ICICLE which would stand for Inner-City Inner-Community Land Express. If it's an acronym for something, and the word ICICLE was trademarked, could they still be sued? There are also serveral other proposed names, but I think they're leaning towards ICICLE.

This relates back to class because it shows a company that's trying to think of a name or acronym that's not copyrighted, and so that it's still unique to their city.

"Activision Trademarks 'DJ Hero'"

http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/683245/Activision_Trademarks_DJ_Hero.html

This article is about Activision trademarking "DJ Hero" for a new game they are developing. The article states that they think it'll be similar to the game Beatmania. The trademark itself would protect: "computer game software and related instruction manual sold together as a unit; interactive video game programs; computer game discs; downloadable software for use in connection with computer games; video game controllers; interactive video game comprised of a CD or DVD sold as a unit with a video game controller." So the trademark would protect everything that would come with the game, if a user were to buy it.

This relates back to class because the article is about a company trademarking a name for a video game. However, if it's already like a game that's already been produced, wouldn't that bring up a copyright case?