Male grooming company, Manspot, has taken a proactive approach in the dire face of a trademark infringement dispute. The firm has requested an Illinois federal court for an assertion that it is not infringing on the trademark of a similarly named competitor who recently issued a cease-and-desist order.
In an interesting twist to regular trademark violation proceedings, Manspot isn’t on the defensive, but instead actively seeking a legal declaration to continue its operations uninterrupted. Typically, companies on the receiving side of a cease-and-desist order for alleged trademark infringement may defend their position, if sued, or modify their branding to avoid a potential lawsuit. With this move, however, Manspot appears to be taking pre-emptive steps to combat any impending legal actions.
This approach could signify an emerging trend among corporations in similar situations, seeking to carry on business as usual during legal disputes. Manspot’s actions might inspire other corporations to consider pre-emptive legal protection in the face of potential intellectual property infringement allegations, rather than bearing the cost and resources involved in rebranding or defending a lawsuit.
To learn more about Manspot’s anticipatory legal maneuver, you are invited to read more at Law360.