The Position in the United States

Authors

Irene Calboli, Texas A&M University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Book Section

Publication Date

10-2012

ISBN

9789041141262

Abstract

This Chapter addresses the uncertainty and the still unclear judicial standards for assessing contributory trademark infringement in the United States. The Chapter proceeds as follows. Part II outlines the developments of the doctrine of contributory trademark infringement, first in the brick-and-mortar world and subsequently in the online context. Based upon this analysis, Part III criticizes the uncertainty that surrounds the application of the judicial standards to determine contributory infringement, particularly in the online market place. Part III also attempts to provide some explanations for the current judicial decisions and highlights that courts seem to apply a “we know it when we see it” standard to identify contributory trademark infringers. Notably, Part III states that courts seem to distinguish between intermediaries who acted in “good faith” and who are generally not held liable for contributory infringement, and intermediaries who acted in “bad faith” and profited from the infringement, and who are held liable for contributory infringement. Part III concludes that although this judicial line of reasoning may prevent broader liability for “good” intermediaries, all intermediaries and legal operators would benefit from a clearer interpretation of the current standards in this important area of trademark law.

First Page

119

Last Page

142

Num Pages

24

Publisher

Wolters Kluwer

Editor

Christopher Heath & Anselm Kamperman Sanders

Book Title

Intellectual Property Liability of Consumers, Facilitators, and Intermediaries

Recommended Citation

Irene Calboli, The Position in the United States, in Intellectual Property Liability of Consumers, Facilitators, and Intermediaries 119 (Christopher Heath & Anselm Kamperman Sanders eds., 2012).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.tamu.edu/facscholar/703