Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Massachusetts

hello there, I own a registered trademark. lets call it "BLUE" can i put a town or states name in front of it for example Maine Blue or Chatham Blue or Nantucket Blue? Is this ok?


Asked on 3/31/11, 4:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Kevin B. Murphy Franchise Foundations, APC

As a Franchise Attorney I need to ask - is your trademark registered federally (through the USPTO) or just a state registration? Generally speaking, a trademark owner does not want to do anything that might "dilute" the mark. There is a risk of doing this in your approach. A full consideration of all facts and circumstances is necessary, including why you want to do this to begin with, but it may less harmful to use BLUE of Nantuket. That way, the mark continues to stand on its own, appearing first, then followed by a geographic description. Consult with a good trademark or franchise attorney in your area for specific advice.

Mr. Franchise - Kevin B. Murphy, B.S., M.B.A., J.D.

Franchise Foundations, a Professional Corporation

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Answered on 4/02/11, 12:09 pm


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