Skelton Taintor & Abbott Attorney Andrew (Andy) Zulieve was guest speaker to a very receptive and interactive group at the November 20 Rockland Rotary Luncheon. His presentation focused on common misconceptions of trademark law by businesses and the legal problems they can create. Attorney Zulieve explained the legal perils of adopting a descriptive (“weak”) trademark, adopting a mark that is identical or confusingly similar to one already in use by a competitor, the effect of a federal or state trademark registration, and the basic elements of trademark infringement.
It is prudent business practice to consult with an experienced intellectual property attorney before spending valuable resources to select, develop and use any trademark in commerce. Doing so will significantly reduce the risk, cost and expense of defending a trademark infringement lawsuit in federal or state court. Andrew Zulieve is Of Counsel with Skelton Taintor & Abbott and manages its Waldoboro office. He has 30 years of experience in the areas of intellectual property, business, contract and construction law, including litigation in federal and state courts. He can be reached by calling 207-241-3028.