Ninth Circuit Limits Trademark Law Scope: Lanham Act Excludes Equity Advertising

In a recent decision, the Ninth Circuit has clarified that the Lanham Act, the cornerstone of federal trademark law in the United States, does not extend to activities related to the advertising and selling of equity. This ruling came as the court dismissed an appeal from LegalForce RAPC Worldwide PC, an intellectual property firm, against a Japanese entity that had used the “LegalForce” brand in a fundraising campaign. The court’s opinion underscores the limited applicability of trademark protections under certain circumstances. For further details, the appellate decision can be examined in full at Law360.