September 23, 2013
A U.K. musical instrument maker on Monday urged a California federal judge to toss claims that a ukulele featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants infringed Gibson Guitar Corp.'s "Flying V" trademark, saying Gibson had not shown there were any U.S. sales of the product.
July 19, 2013
A California federal judge Thursday blocked Viacom International Inc.'s attempt to collect attorneys' fees in a suit alleging that ukuleles featuring SpongeBob SquarePants infringed Gibson Guitar Corp.'s "Flying V" trademark design, ruling that Gibson's action had merit.
June 07, 2013
Gibson Guitar Corp. on Friday blasted Viacom International Inc.'s bid for attorneys' fees in a suit alleging a ukulele featuring SpongeBob SquarePants infringed Gibson's "Flying V" trademark, saying Viacom had failed to meet the high standard for a fee award in a trademark action.
May 13, 2013
A California federal judge indicated Monday that he will drop Viacom International Inc. from a suit alleging a ukulele featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants infringed Gibson Guitar Corp.'s "Flying V" trademark, saying Gibson had not shown Viacom was involved in the design of the instrument.
March 08, 2013
A California judge on Friday dismissed Gibson Guitar Corp.'s trademark infringement suit alleging Viacom International Inc. lifted its design on a ukulele featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants, ruling Gibson hadn't sufficiently distinguished between the roles of Viacom and its licensee.
February 08, 2013
Viacom International Inc. told a California federal judge on Thursday that Gibson Guitar Corp.'s suit accusing the media giant of lifting Gibson's design on a ukulele featuring cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants can't proceed because none of the instruments was ever sold in the United States.