Is Your Trademark In Jeopardy?

Attorney Warns Business Of New Facebook Feature

McAfee & Taft intellectual property attorney Ryan Lobato was interviewed for a Journal Record feature about Facebook's recent move to allow members to personalize their Facebook addresses and how it could put some business trademarks in jeopardy.

Lobato told The Journal Record that Facebook didn't give companies much notice to protect themselves upfront, announcing the new policy just a few days before the URL "land run" was opened up on Saturday, June 13th at 12:01am EDT. For those who missed the deadline for filing trademarks with Facebook before the change, it's not too late.

"Registration will still be open," Lobato told The Journal Record. "Rights holders can continue to register their mark with Facebook." He advised, however, that trademark holders should register their marks with Facebook by at least June 28th.

Lobato first brought attention to this issue in the McAfee & Taft Intellectual Property Law Alert published June 11, 2009, which was subsequently referenced by other media outlets, websites and social media.