A couple of weeks ago we wrote about Trademark holders of generic terms applying to the Trademark Clearing House (TMCH) where trademarks on many of which were causing some of those 500,000 “warnings” to go out to people trying to register a new gTLD domain name.
Today we bring you the world famous trademarks for the term “Texas” and “Venture”
“”1. TEXAS
Jurisdiction: United States of America
Goods: IC 041. US 107. G & S: Educational Services-Namely, Providing College and Graduate Level Courses of Instruction, Continuing Education Courses and Seminars and Opportunities for Students to Participate in Research Programs, and Entertainment Services-Namely, Providing College Athletic and Sporting Events and Performances of Dramatic Works.
FIRST USE: 19140000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19140000
International Class of Goods and Services or Equivalent: class number 41: Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.
Trademark Registrant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
Trademark Registrant Contact: 201 West 7th Street, 78701 Austin, TX, US””
I guess Texas A&M and Texas Tech, and Texas Christian University (TCU) are all in violation of the The University of Texas System trademark and should be ordered immediately by a court of competent jurisdiction to have to change their name might as well go after Texas High School as well.
Ridiculous
As for the 2nd generic trademark for today we have the word “venture” which has two trademarks:
1. Mark: @VENTURE
Jurisdiction: United States of America
Goods: RISK MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SERVICES International Class of Goods and Services or Equivalent:
class number 36: Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs.
Trademark Registrant: Hartford Fire Insurance Company Trademark Registrant
Contact: One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT, US
2. Mark: VENTURE
Jurisdiction: United States of America Goods:
G & S: LIFE INSURANCE SERVICES, NAMELY UNDERWRITING AND ADMINISTERING ANNUITIES. FIRST USE: 19850921. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19850921
International Class of Goods and Services or Equivalent: class number 36: Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs. Trademark
Registrant: John Hancock Life Insurance Company USA – Declaration
Trademark Registrant Contact: 601 CONGRESS STREET, 02210 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, US”
Michael: You have obviously been confused by the difference between domain names and trademarks. The same or similar trademarks can be owned by different entities as long as consumers would not be confused by their coexistence and use. Sometimes, these can be quite close and still be acceptable — see OHIO UNIVERSITY and THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. Hence, too, the use of TEXAS as opposed to the use of TEXAS A&M and TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY. As to VENTURE, you cannot simply lump all financial-matter related activities together — Insurance and life insurance are quite different and are marketed in different ways than credit card services. You do raise a point of contention in the trademark world in asking about VENTURE (but “world famous”? I think not) and .VENTURES.
But these are not Fails.
Michael R. Graham
Have all the trademarks gone through the opposition process (where they are published and can be opposed) or has ICANN foolishly accepted dodgy “deposit” trademarks (as used in the .eu fiasco) in weird classes?
they even have trademarks for “o”…. damn oprah.