Holly Lance Archives

May 31, 2018

New Developments: Disappearing Data: WHOIS Blackout

Courtroom: ICANN Suing for Use of WHOIS Data

Further to our IP alert on May 22, two important developments have taken place in the last few days. First, on Friday, May 25 ICANN filed a legal action in Germany against EPAG, a German ICANN accredited registrar, seeking a ruling by the court on the continued ability of the registrar to collect WHOIS data and preserve it for access by those entities having a legitimate purpose. This action, intended to preserve WHOIS data, will be monitored by many intellectual property owners and associations and appears to be the first legal measure taken in order to ensure the continued ability… Read more

Apr 18, 2018

National Grange Victorious in Vacating Satisfaction of Judgment

On April 17, 2018, the Eastern District of California set aside a partial satisfaction of judgment at the request of client the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (the “National Grange”) when it came to light that an attorney fee award had been improperly paid with monies belonging to the National Grange’s chartered California chapter. Jim Bikoff and Bruce McDonald argued for the plaintiff at the April 16 hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Shubb. Two years prior the National Grange had been awarded attorneys’ fees of approximately $240,000 based on Defendant California Guild’s deliberate and willful violation… Read more

Mar 14, 2017

Order Granting Motion for Assignment Order for National Grange

SGR has secured another victory for client the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (“National Grange”) that will significantly advance its collection efforts for a $144,715.70 attorney fee award owed by the California Guild. On March 9, 2017, Judge Shubb of the Eastern District of California granted the National Grange’s Motion for Assignment Order, holding that that membership dues owed by the Guild’s 83 local chapters and loan repayments from four local chapters are to be paid directly to the National Grange to satisfy the attorney fee award. The basis of the National Grange’s attorney fee award… Read more

Mar 8, 2017

National Grange Succeeds in Opposing NEWGRANGE PRESS Application Based on Prior Trademark Rights

Victory at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board On February 16, 2017, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (Board) sustained our client’s, the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, opposition of the trademark application for the mark NEWGRANGE PRESS based on a finding a likelihood of confusion. National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry v. Mulejewels Publ’ns Ltd., Opp. No. 91222078 (T.T.A.B. 2017). The National Grange is the nation’s oldest general farm and rural public interest organization and has chapters nationwide. The National Grange owns numerous trademark registrations, including registrations for GRANGE covering “newsletters, brochures,… Read more