The Role of Creativity in Trademark Law
36 Pages Posted: 15 Dec 2011
Date Written: December 14, 2011
Abstract
Trademark law - unlike patent and copyright law - is not structured to reward creators for producing particular content. That is unsurprising because trademark law and theory is significantly different than that of patent and copyright. Nonetheless, there are critical ways in which trademark law - rewarding marks’ creators. This underappreciated current of incentive to be creative courses through trademark law in ways that complement trademark law’s basic purposes. At the same time, however, trademark law’s drive to reward creativity has also likely helped justify its expansion in ways unmoored from core trademark theory.
Keywords: trademark, creativity, distinctive marks, goodwill, good will
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