UNITED STATES: Major League Soccer Trademark Challenge Denied

Mark Romance authored the article, "UNITED STATES: Major League Soccer Denied on Third-Party Use" for INTA Bulletin, the online publication for the International Trademark Association. The article discusses the precedential ruling of the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board granting the motion of applicant F.C. Internazionale Milan (Inter Milan) to dismiss part of the opposition of Major League Soccer LLC (MLS) to the mark INTER.

Romance explains that Inter Milan, a professional soccer club based in Italy, sought to register the mark INTER in seven international classes, including entertainment services relating to professional soccer games and exhibitions in International Class 41. MLS, a professional soccer league comprising teams located around the United States, challenged the registration on the grounds of being merely description and likelihood of confusion.

Read the full article here.