Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, Senior Partner Jim Harrington Is Third Time Guest On Law You Should Know

James ‘Jim’ Harrington, Senior Partner, Hoffmann & Baron, LLP, returns as third time guest on “Law You Should Know”.

In conversation with Host Kenneth Landau, they continued their discussion about Intellectual Property (IP) and, in this particular segment, focused on trademarks.

Harrington explained, “A trademark would be a word, a design, or some kind of logo that you would use so consumers know that is your product.”

Harrington further clarified that, unlike patents where you want to keep the idea a secret until you file your patent application, “trademarks are different because the rights come from the use – so you want to make that use as public as possible. You want consumers to associate that word or logo with the goods or services you are providing.”

Harrington also emphasized some of the benefits of registering trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He explained that trademark registration “allows you to enforce anywhere in the country. It allows you to sue in federal court, which very often has advantages. It also identifies you as the owner [of the trademark].”

Harrington also explained the standard for trademark infringement. He stated, “even if the goods or the services are not exactly the same or the mark is not exactly the same, if they’re close enough so that consumers are going to start getting confused as to the source of those goods or services, then it’s a problem.”

To listen to the podcast, please click here: MP3

ABOUT JAMES HARRINGTON:
James Harrington, Hoffmann and Baron, LLP, is the senior partner in the firm’s New York office. He brings extensive experience in various areas of intellectual property practice, including patent and trademark prosecution, patent and trademark litigation, post-grant proceedings, client counseling, opinion work, due diligence, and licensing. He is also highly experienced in managing the firm’s university and research-based clients. Prior to joining the firm in 1998, he spent five years as a trial attorney. He has lectured and participated in panel discussions on various topics of patent law relating to biotechnology.

He graduated with B.S. in Biology from Bucknell University, and earned his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law, and an M.S. in Biology from Adelphi University.