In the case of *Major League Soccer L.L.C. v. Jordan Older* (Opposition Case No. 91240089), MLS filed an opposition on March 16, 2018 against the trademark application proposed by Jordan Older for the mark “LOS ANGELES F.C.” under Serial No. 86335507. Although MLS challenged the application, Jordan Older eventually opted to abandon his trademark after it was published for opposition, with the application marked as “Abandoned – Express After Publication.”
The case, examined by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), adhered to the common practice in trademark law, whereby large companies, such as Major League Soccer, aim to safeguard their brand by opposing smaller applications. Jordan Older, despite the opposition from MLS, managed to avoid a extended legal conflict by taking the step to abandon the application on his own terms, thereby avoiding likely high-cost and drawn-out litigation.
The opposition was managed by Interlocutory Attorney Jennifer Krisp, with support staff support from Nicole M. Thier. To begin, a notice was issued, and trial dates were set, with an answer expected from Older by 25 April 2018. However, the matter was swiftly concluded on 5 April 2018, when the case was closed and terminated. The swift conclusion indicates that Jordan Older successfully navigated the complexities of the opposition process by voluntarily abandoning the mark, resolving the case before any substantive legal disputes developed.
This outcome reflects Older’s capability to settle the issue without delay, sidestepping what could have been an arduous legal dispute from a major sports entity. His decision to voluntarily abandon the mark emphasises his strategic approach, enabling him to bypass the high costs and protracted proceedings common in trademark disputes. Although Major League Soccer’s opposition never achieved a formal resolution through the TTAB, this case shows more info how smaller applicants can make strategic legal decisions to avoid conflicts with large organisations without becoming involved in lengthy litigation.
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