Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Müller Schupfner & Parter ensured that a wave of cease and desist letters was quickly stopped. The letters were sent to distributors of merchandise licensed by one of the large US film studios.
A third party registered the title of a well-known movie at the German Patent and Trademark Office without the authorization of the film studio. Dozens of distributors of film merchandise then received written warnings, and a nation-wide sales warning was issued. The distribution of the products in question, however, was licensed by the film studio.
Acting quickly, MSP was able to rectify the trademark situation. The warnings were rescinded, and sales of the affected merchandise were able to resume. The transfer of the trademark to the film studio was completed by German Patent and Trademark Office also within a few days.
Merchandising, especially the licensing of rights to toy or apparel manufacturers, is of considerable commercial importance to the film industry. However, cases of “free-riders” who try to profit from others’ success by means of their own copycat trademark registrations are prevalent. Müller Schupfner & Partner is pleased to report multiple successes fighting such copycats.