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Myth-Busting is Still Alive: FAR Council Encourages Industry/Government Communications

Client Alert | 1 min read | 12.02.16

To implement section 887 of the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, the FAR Council, on November 29, proposed a rule to amend FAR 1.102-2 by adding language to clarify that the government may, and is encouraged to, communicate with industry as part of market research, if such exchanges comport with existing law and regulations and do not further an unfair competitive advantage. Continuing the conversation that the 2011 and 2012 Office of Federal Procurement Policy Myth-Busting memoranda commenced, the Council also requested suggestions about ways to “further enhance open communication between industry and the Federal acquisition community[,]” as well as information responding to specific questions – responses to which are due on or before January 30, 2017 (the same due date for submitting comments on the proposed rule).

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Client Alert | 4 min read | 12.30.25

Are All Baby Products Related? TTAB Says “No”

The United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB or Board) recently issued a refreshed opinion in the trademark dispute Naterra International, Inc. v. Samah Bensalem, where Naterra International, Inc. petitioned the TTAB to cancel Samah Bensalem’s registration for the mark BABIES' MAGIC TEA based on its own BABY MAGIC mark. On remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the TTAB reconsidered an expert’s opinion about relatedness of goods based on the concept of “umbrella branding” and found that the goods are unrelated and therefore again denied the petition for cancellation....