Reading list: 2016 TM year in review

 Mark P. McKenna & Shelby Niemann, 2016 Trademark Year in Review:

This brief essay reviews some of the most significant developments in trademark law during the past year. In most cases we have interpreted “year” fairly liberally, particularly to highlight some longer-term trends. We focus on six areas: (1) the constitutionality of § 2(a) of the Lanham Act; (2) the Fourth Circuit’s Belmora decision and the availability of § 43(a) claims when the plaintiff has not used a mark in the United States; (3) the effect of B&B Hardware; (4) injunctive relief and the presumption of irreparable harm; (5) nominative fair use; and (6) initial interest confusion.