Intellectual Property Law

Man & Machine, Inc. v. Apple, Inc.

By Brian Wm. Higgin

• Man & Machine, Inc. v. Apple, Inc., No. 8:2008cv02453 (D. Md filed Sep. 18, 2008); assigned to J. Williams

     Man & Machine, Inc. (M&M), a Maryland company based in Landover, MD, owns the federally registered MIGHTY MOUSE trademark, which, according to Trademark Office records, was first used in commerce in 2004 (in connection with M&M's medical and industrial and hygienic waterproof computer mice products).

     In its Complaint, M&M contends that Apple's Mighty Mouse product infringes M&M's trademark, that Apple purchased the keyword "Mighty Mouse" from various Internet search engines to drive search engine traffice to Apple's website, and that Apple received an invalid license from CBS Operations for use of CBS's MIGHTY MOUSE trademark, which is allegedly the subject of a pending trademark application for computer mice, and is also the subject of a trademark opposition (CBS Corporation allegedly owns the mark MIGHTY MOUSE for use in connection with toys and children's apparel).

Full post as published by Maryland Intellectual Property Law Blog on September 21, 2008 (boomark / email).