On Thursday, September 27, 2018, the Supreme Court granted cert to a new case involving Granholm-like issues for the alcohol beverage wholesale and retail tiers. See Certiorari Granted. The case, Tennessee Wine and Spirits vs. Byrd Clayton, stems from a Tennessee law which requires in-state retail license applicants to satisfy residency requirements. The law…
Author: Lindsey A. Zahn
Lindsey is the founder and author of On Reserve: A Wine Law Blog. She is an attorney and the Managing Partner of the alcohol beverage and food law firm Lindsey Zahn P.C. Lindsey is admitted to the New York State Bar.
Are Night and Noche Likely to Cause Confusion for Wine?
The USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (“TTAB”) recently issued two relevant decisions to the wine industry. The decisions are summarized below. In re En Primeur Wines, Inc., Serial No. 87170488 (July 18, 2018) [not precedential]: En Primeur Wines, Inc. (“Applicant”) sought registration on the Principal Register of the mark MY…
Introducing Jus Vini, The Journal of Wine & Spirits Law
It is with great excitement that I share the launch of Jus Vini, The Journal of Wine & Spirits Law. Jus Vini is the new international journal on wine and spirits law edited by the University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program — A Jean Monnet Chair. The journal is a bilingual, peer-reviewed…
Recent USPTO Trademark Decisions Relating to Alcohol Beverages
The USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (“TTAB”) recently issued three relevant decisions to the wine, beer, and spirits industries. The decisions are summarized below. In re El Galan, Inc., Serial No. 86961428 (February 1, 2018) [not precedential]: El Galan, Inc. (“Applicant”) sought registration of the mark TERNURA in standard…
CLE International Conference on Wine, Beer & Spirits Law in Chicago, Illinois
CLE International is again hosting its Wine, Beer, and Spirits CLE. This year, the program will take place in Chicago on October 4th and 5th at the Millennium Knickerbocker hotel. Attendees can earn up to 12 hours of MCLE credits including one hour of ethics. Registration is currently open and…
Recent Wine, Beer, and Spirits Decisions by the USPTO TTAB
The USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) recently issued three relevant decisions to the wine, beer, and spirits industries. The decisions are summarized below. In In re Harlequin Enterprises Limited, Serial No. 86761280 (September 7, 2017) [not precedential], Applicant (Harlequin Enterprises Limited, a purveyor of romance novels) sought to register a design…
2017 Wine & Law Program at the University of Reims in Champagne, France
In October, I had the great pleasure of visiting the Champagne region and teaching a course on U.S. Trademark Law at the University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program. The University of Reims’ Wine & Law Program is directed by Professor Theodore Georgopoulos and consists of a full-year program (Master’s Degree)…
Study the Business of Wine in Santiago, Chile and Call for Contributors or Co-Authors
Dr. Kevin Fandl, Assistant Professor and Academic Director of Global Immersion Programs at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, recently reached out to share an exciting opportunity in Santiago, Chile this January along with a call for contributes or co-authors. Temple University’s CIBER is offering Faculty Development in International Business (FDIB): Study…
TTB Revises Guidance Document on Personalized Labels
On September 5, 2017, TTB issued a new public guidance document, TTB G 2017-2, for personalized labels which the agency said supersedes its prior guidance TTB G 2011-05 but does not “completely change the underlying policy.” See TTB Public Guidance, TTB G 2017-2, Personalized Labels. Per TTB, the new guidance…
Federal Compliance Update at the 2018 Eastern Winery Expo
Join Marybeth Williams of Williams Compliance and me at the 2018 Eastern Winery Expo in Lancaster, Pennsylvania March 6th through 8th for an update on federal winery compliance. A description of our event is provided below. “They want me to do WHAT!?!?” How to remain afloat in the winding river of…