Chart of Assignments
Trademarks, Fall 2026
Eric E. Johnson, OU Law

Assignments updated as of: November 10, 2026.

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HELPFUL NOTES:

Day by Day:
Week No 1
TUESDAY August 25 No 1
0. About the Course
No reading required for this for today.
1. Orientation to Trademark Law and Its Context
Read Unit 1 (pp. 1-13) in Reading Packet A1 [pdf].
Read Nanotreatise on Copyright Law in the United States.
Read Nanotreatise on Patent Law in the United States.
Read Nanotreatise on Right of Publicity Law in the United States.
WEDNESDAY August 26 No 2
2. Trademark’s Fundamental Concepts
Read Unit 2 (pp. 15-29) in Reading Packet A1 [pdf].
  • The Trade-Mark Cases (U.S. 1879)
  • Champion Spark Plug v. Sanders (used spark plugs) (U.S. 1947)
  • Kellogg v. Nabisco ("shredded wheat" for shredded wheat) (U.S. 1938)
Week No 2
TUESDAY September 1 No 3
2. Trademark’s Fundamental Concepts, continued
We'll finish our discussion of last class's reading, including Kellogg v. Nabisco.
3. Registration and the Trademark Office
Read Unit 3A, which is Reading Packet A2 [pdf].
Read Unit 3B §3.3 & 3.4, i.e. pp. 51-57 in Reading Packet A3 [pdf].
WEDNESDAY September 2 No 4
0. About the Course, continued
Please read the syllabus, if you haven't yet.
3. Registration and the Trademark Office, continued
Read Unit 3B §3.5, i.e. pp. 58-70 in Reading Packet A3 [pdf].
  • In re Jason Jimenez (Gasper vs. Jasper) (TTAB 2025)
4. Failure to Function
Read Unit 4, i.e. pp. 71-87 in Reading Packet A3 [pdf].
  • In re Erik Brunetti (“fuck” failure to function) (Fed Cir. 2025)
Week No 3
TUESDAY September 8 No 5
4. Failure to Function, continued
We'll finish our discussion of last class's reading.
5. Distinctiveness
Read Unit 5, available as an isolated PDF, or within Volume A PDF and DOCX.)
  • Zatarains v. Oak Grove Smokehouse (Fish-Fri, Chick-Fri) (5th Cir. 1983)
WEDNESDAY September 9 No 6
6. Secondary Meaning; Acquired Distinctiveness
Read Unit 6, available as an isolated PDF, or within Volume A PDF and DOCX.)
  • In re Walsh (Performance Nutrition) (TTAB 2016)
Week No 4
TUESDAY September 15 No 7
7. Genericness
Read Unit 7 in Volume A [pdf].
  • Filipino Yellow Pages v. Asian Journal Publications (Filipino Yellow Pages) (9th Cir. 1999)
  • USPTO v. Booking.com (booking.com) (U.S. 2020)
  • Elliott v. Google (google/googling) (9th Cir. 2017)
WEDNESDAY September 16 No 8
8. Establishing Rights Through Use
Read Unit 8 in Volume A [pdf].
  • FN Herstal v. Clyde Armory (SCAR) (11th Cir. 2016)
  • Hana Financial, Inc. v. Hana Bank (Hana, tacking) (U.S. 2015)
  • Illinois High School Ass’n v. GTE Vantage (March Madness) (7th Cir. 1996)
Week No 5
TUESDAY September 22 No 9
9. Ownership and Priority
Read Unit 9 in Volume A [pdf].
  • Burger King v. Hoots (Burger King) (7th Cir. 1968)
  • Bell v. Streetwise Records (New Edition) (D. Mass. 1986)
WEDNESDAY September 23 No 10
10. Deceptiveness, Geography, Names, and Offensive Word Marks
Read Unit 10 in Volume A [pdf].
  • In re Budge (Lovee Lamb) (Fed. Cir. 1988)
  • Iancu v. Brunetti (FUCT) (U.S. 2019)
  • Vidal v. Elster (U.S. 2024)
Week No 6
TUESDAY September 29 No 11
11. Trademark Transactions, Goodwill, Licensee Estoppel, and Abandonment
Read Unit 11 in Volume A [pdf].
  • FreecycleSunnyvale v. Freecycle Network (Freecycle) (9th Cir. 2010)
  • Westco v. K.B. (Mattress Warehouse) (N.D. Ohio 2001)
WEDNESDAY September 30 No 12
11. Trademark Transactions, Goodwill, Licensee Estoppel, and Abandonment, continued
Re-review the Freecycle case
Week No 7
TUESDAY October 6 No 13
12. Likelihood of Confusion for Word Marks
Read Unit 12 in Volume A [pdf].
  • Virgin v. Nawab ("Virgin" for cell phones) (2d Cir. 2003)
Re-review Part II of In re Jason Jimenez case in Unit 3B §3.5 in Volume A [pdf] (or in Packet A3 [pdf]).
  • In re Jason Jimenez (Gasper vs. Jasper) (TTAB 2025)
WEDNESDAY October 7 No 14
13. Requirement of Defendant’s Use-in-Commerce for Trademark Infringement
Read Unit 13 in Volume A [pdf].
  • Radiance v. NAACP (4th Cir. 2015)
Week No 8
TUESDAY October 13 No 15
14. FTC and Unfair Competition
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
15. State Unfair Competition Statutes
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
16. False Advertising
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
17. Antitrust Law
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
WEDNESDAY October 14 No 16
16. False Advertising, continued as necessary
See prior day's listing.
17. Antitrust Law, continued as necessary
See prior day's listing.
Review, as extra material if there is extra time
Week No 9
TUESDAY October 20 No 17
17. Antitrust Law, continued
Same as previous. No reading. Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
18. Trade Libel
Read Chapters 1 and 2 of Trade Libel and Defamation: An Open Casebooklet - available as PDF or DOCX.
  • Bindrim v. Mitchell (Cal. 1979) ("nude marathon" novel)
Presentation: Trade Libel and Defamation - Slideroller (scroll or press P for slide mode)
Presentation: Defamation - Flowchart
WEDNESDAY October 21 No 18
18. Trade Libel, continued as necessary
No additional reading.
Presentation same as the prior class.
19. Internet Domain Names
No reading.
Presentation: Internet Domain Names - Slideroller (scroll or press P for slide mode)
If there is extra time ...
In case there is extra time left over in class, we will do some review.
Week No 10
TUESDAY October 27 No 19
18. Trade Libel, continued
No additional reading.
Presentations same as above.
20. Right of Publicity
Re-review Nanotreatise on Right of Publicity Law in the United States.
WEDNESDAY October 28 No 20
20. Right of Publicity, continued
Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Right of Publicity: An Open Casebooklet - available as PDF or DOCX.
  • Downing v. Abercrombie & Fitch (surfer photo) (9th Cir. 2001)
  • Polydoros v. Twentieth Century Fox Film (The Sandlot) (Cal. App. 1997)
Week No 11
TUESDAY November 3 No 21
21. Non-Word Marks, Part 1
Read Unit 21 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Qualitex (green-gold press pads) (U.S. 1995)
  • Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana (patio cafe) (U.S. 1992)
WEDNESDAY November 4 No 22
22. Non-Word Marks, Part 2
Read Unit 22 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Walmart v. Samara (baby dresses) (U.S. 2000)
  • Best Cellars v. Wine Made Simple (wine retail) (S.D.N.Y. 2003)
Week No 12
NOTE:
  • In-class presentation content, if applicable, to be posted the day before
TUESDAY November 10 No 23
23. Focus on Functionality
Read Unit 23 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • TrafFix v. MDI (dual-spring roadsigns) (U.S. 2001)
  • Groeneveld v. Lubecore (grease pumps) (6th Cir. 2013)
  • Jay Franco & Sons v. Franek (round beach towel) (7th Cir. 2010)
WEDNESDAY November 11 No 24
24. Enter Aesthetics
Read Unit 24 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Wallace v. Godinger (2d Cir. 1990) (baroque silverware)
  • Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent (2d Cir. 2012) (red soled shoes)
  • Maker’s Mark v. Diageo (6th Cir. 2012) (red wax seal)
Presentation: Functionality slides [PDF]
Week No 13
NOTE:
  • Subject to change through the preceding Thursday
  • In-class presentation content, if applicable, to be posted the day before
TUESDAY November 17 No 25
25. More Ways To Be Confused
Read Unit 25 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Au-To Gold v. VW (9th Cir. 2006) (VW keychains, license plate frames)
  • Hermes v. Lederer de Paris (2d Cir. 2002) (Kelly Bag)
WEDNESDAY November 18 No 26
26. Dilution and Fair Uses
Read Unit 26 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Mattel v. MCA Records (9th Cir. 2002) (“Barbie Girl” song)
  • Toyota v. Tabari (9th Cir. 2010) (Lexus brokers)
Week No 14
NOTE:
  • Subject to change through the preceding Thursday
  • In-class presentation content, if applicable, to be posted the day before
TUESDAY November 24 No 27
27. Merchandizing and Trademark Law
Read Unit 27 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Boston Hockey v. Dallas Cap & Emblem (5th Cir. 1975) (team logo patches)
  • Job’s Daughters v. Lindeburg & Co. (9th Cir. 1980) (membership jewelry)
  • LSU v. Smack Apparel (5th Cir. 2008) (trash-talk t-shirts)
WEDNESDAY November 25
No class today. If you are traveling for Thanksgiving break, here's wishing you smooth and safe travels.
Week No 15
NOTE:
  • Subject to change through the preceding Thursday
  • In-class presentation content, if applicable, to be posted the day before
TUESDAY ("Wuesday") December 1 No 28
28. Expressive Uses and the First Amendment
Read Unit 28 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
  • Jack Daniel’s v. VIP Products (U.S. 2023) (Bad Spaniels)
Review
Assignment, if any, to be posted.
WEDNESDAY ("Threndsday") December 2
No class today. This is treated as a Thursday on the school calendar.



Topic by Topic:
Reading Materials:
Unit 1 through Unit 13 are in Volume A, available in PDF format and DOCX format.
Unit 21 through Unit 28 are in Volume B, available in PDF format and DOCX format.

0. About the Course
Please read the syllabus.
1. Orientation to Trademark Law and Its Context
Read Unit 1.
Read Nanotreatise on Copyright Law in the United States.
Read Nanotreatise on Patent Law in the United States.
Read Nanotreatise on Right of Publicity Law in the United States.
2. Trademark’s Fundamental Concepts
Read Unit 2.
3. Registration and the Trademark Office
Read Unit 3A and Unit 3B.
4. Failure to Function
Read Unit 4.
5. Distinctiveness
Read Unit 5, available as an isolated PDF, or within Volume A PDF and DOCX.)
6. Secondary Meaning; Acquired Distinctiveness
Read Unit 6 [pdf].
7. Genericness
Read Unit 7 in Volume A [pdf].
8. Establishing Rights Through Use
Read Unit 8 in Volume A [pdf].
9. Ownership and Priority
Read Unit 9 in Volume A [pdf].
10. Deceptiveness, Geography, Names, and Offensive Word Marks
Read Unit 10 in Volume A [pdf].
11. Trademark Transactions, Goodwill, Licensee Estoppel, and Abandonment
Read Unit 11 in Volume A [pdf].
12. Likelihood of Confusion for Word Marks
Read Unit 12 in Volume A [pdf].
Re-review Part II of In re Jason Jimenez case in Unit 3B §3.5 in Volume A [pdf] (or in Packet A3 [pdf]).
13. Requirement of Defendant’s Use-in-Commerce for Trademark Infringement
Read Unit 13 in Volume A [pdf].
14. FTC and Unfair Competition
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
15. State Unfair Competition Statutes
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
16. False Advertising
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
17. Antitrust Law
No reading.
Presentation webpage (scroll, or press P for slide mode).
18. Trade Libel
Read Chapters 1 and 2 of Trade Libel and Defamation: An Open Casebooklet - available as PDF or DOCX.
Presentation: Trade Libel and Defamation - Slideroller (scroll or press P for slide mode)
Presentation: Defamation - Flowchart
19. Internet Domain Names
No reading.
Presentation: Internet Domain Names - Slideroller (scroll or press P for slide mode)
20. Right of Publicity
Re-review Nanotreatise on Right of Publicity Law in the United States.
Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Right of Publicity: An Open Casebooklet - available as PDF or DOCX.
21. Non-Word Marks, Part 1
Read Unit 21 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
22. Non-Word Marks, Part 2
Read Unit 22 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
23. Focus on Functionality
Read Unit 23 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
24. Enter Aesthetics
Read Unit 24 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
25. More Ways To Be Confused
Read Unit 25 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
26. Dilution and Fair Uses
Read Unit 26 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
27. Merchandizing and Trademark Law
Read Unit 27 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].
28. Expressive Uses and the First Amendment
Read Unit 28 in Volume B in [pdf] or [docx].




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