Proceedings may address if Inter Milan receives federal trademark protection for the mark "Inter," by itselfGETTY IMAGES
Inter Miami CF "does not expect to have to change its name" amid an ongoing trademark dispute with Serie A club Inter Milan, according to a source cited by Michelle Kaufman of the MIAMI HERALD. The source said that the trademark proceedings between the clubs "do not impact in any way Inter Miami's ability to continue to use the Inter Miami name and trademark designation." The source added that Inter Miami has "no intention of changing its name and the outcome of the trademark proceedings are irrelevant." The trademark proceedings "may address whether Inter Milan will receive federal trademark protection for the mark 'Inter,' by itself, to the exclusion of others." The source said that the proceedings are "at the early stages and ... there have been no substantive decisions addressing the merits up to this point" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/12).
COURT REPORT: LAW.com's David Winker noted Inter Milan had won a "key victory" in the lawsuit against Inter Miami, as the USPTO "dismissed one of the two arguments made by Inter Miami that it should not be forced to change its name." MLS contends that Inter Milan's application "should be refused on two independent grounds." The league said that Inter is "merely descriptive" and that there is "likelihood of confusion." The USPTO dismissed the "likelihood of confusion" claim, and in a "somewhat surprising move, Inter Miami exercised its right to replead" the claim after the decision. But it "appears likely" that claim will be dismissed again, meaning Inter Miami will be "forced to move forward with its sole remaining claim -- that Inter cannot be properly registered because it is merely descriptive" (LAW.com, 2/10).
