Technology continues to drastically alter the application of law, a fact that is illustrated by a recent trademark dispute concerning a popular Internet meme. Ultra Pro International LLC, a manufacturer of trading card protectors and other consumer products, filed for protection of the word "doge," a reference to a piece of viral online content that often depicts a picture of a Shiba Inu. Fans of the Internet meme, including the community surrounding Dogecoin, a form of cryptocurrency inspired by the meme, have been vocal in their opposition to the filing. The question being posited is whether Internet viral content can be trademarked, given its ubiquitous nature.
Attorney Andrew Goldstein, a Partner in the Firm's IP practice, commented on the issue, saying, “Just the fact that there is a meme out there of the word Doge doesn’t give it a monopoly in all uses of that word." Mr. Goldstein's comments were published in the article, "Can You Trademark an Internet Meme?", which appeared on Gigaom on July 1, 2014.
Read the full article, "Can You Trademark an Internet Meme?"
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