Belinda J. Scrimenti
Even if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it might really be a motion mark.
Pattishall partner Belinda Scrimenti obtained a service mark registration for the famous "Duck March" held at The Peabody Hotels' historic Memphis and sister hotels in Orlando and Little Rock--in which Mallard ducks parade from the rooftop, down the elevator, across a red carpet and into each hotel lobby's marble fountain daily. "While there are a handful of other motion marks on the trademark register, the Duck March truly is one of a kind," she explains.
Scrimenti focuses on protecting her clients' intellectual property rights throughout a brand's life stages--from counseling and clearance, to registration and enforcement, with over 25 years of experience litigating trade identity disputes.
Her national litigation experience has encompassed cases in more than 40 federal court districts and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She has litigated over 100 cases in federal courts involving trademark, trade dress, product configuration, unfair competition, dilution, domain name, copyright, dilution, counterfeiting, generic products, false advertising, and product disparagement claims.
Her trial experience includes cases in the Eastern District of Virginia's notorious "rocket docket" (where many domain name cases can be brought), a jurisdiction where cases go to trial within six to nine months. She has also litigated numerous ex parte motions for seizure and impoundment orders, and motions for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
Her litigation experience is diverse. For example, she prevailed in a published preliminary injunction decision that served as a hallmark for a national enforcement program for the "Power Rangers" property. In a recent case, she served as lead counsel in a suit brought by one of the largest national casual dining restaurant chains against a competitor over trademark infringement of plaintiff's multi-million dollar signature dining promotion.
In addition to hotel and restaurant businesses, Scrimenti has represented clients in the fields of merchandised character and sports properties, toys and giftware, personal care products, cosmetics, apparel, luxury goods, computer technology, and publishing, as well as real estate development, construction, security, trade association, and managed health care services.
Scrimenti has counseled on and registered many nontraditional trademarks, including color, building design, configuration, sound, motion, and lengthy narrative marks. She's resolved Internet and domain name problems involving the removal of pornographic, political, and defamatory material from websites, through enforcement and Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution (UDRP) actions. She also supervised an international enforcement program to halt infringement of two internationally famous comic strip characters in over 50 countries.
Scrimenti's extensive litigation experience helps clients at all stages of the branding process. "My job is to be the 'worrier,'" Scrimenti says. "My motto is 'plan for the best, but prepare for the worst.' I always consider the potential ramifications of decisions made in the early stages of branding, to minimize the likelihood of disputes and litigation later; but at the same time, help clients be best prepared should litigation become necessary."
Scrimenti came to Pattishall laterally, most recently practicing in Washington, D.C. Of her Pattishall experience, she says, "While I already knew the firm by its premier reputation in our field, I now know first-hand how much more we offer clients. The firm has immense depth and breadth of talent and experience, led by nationally-recognized experts, that is second to none."
Industry
Expertise
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Consumer Durables & Apparel
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Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
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Media
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Retailing
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Food & Drug Retailing
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Food Beverage & Tobacco
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Household & Personal Products
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Real Estate
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Health Care Equipment & Services
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Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology
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Commercial Services & Supplies
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Transportation
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Software & Services
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Technology Hardware & Equipment
Representative
Matters
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Eugene Singletary, et al. v. GMRI, Inc. (S.D. Fla. 2005) (on behalf of Defendant)
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In Re Peabody Management, Inc. (TTAB 2005) (ex parte appeal) (on behalf of Applicant)
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Darden Corporation, et al. v. IHOP Corp., et al. (M.D. Fla. 2004) (on behalf of Plaintiff/Olive Garden Restaurants division)
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Peabody Management, Inc. v. Sunburst Hospitality Corp. (D. Md. 2003)(on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Altera Corporation v. Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (TTAB 2002)(on behalf of Applicant)
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Daniel H. Shooster v. BT Orlando, LP (S.D. Fla. and TTAB 2000) (on behalf of Defendant)
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First Health Group Corp., etc. v. United Payors and United Providers, Inc. (N.D. Ill.; M.D. Fla. 1999) (on behalf of key non-party witness)
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Adrien Arpel, Inc. v. California Fragrance Company (TTAB 1998)(on behalf of Petitioner)
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Bob DeGabrielle & Associates, Inc. v. Florez & Florez (E.D.N.C. 1997) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Saban Entertainment, Inc. v. Rubies Costume Co. , (S.D.N.Y. 1995) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Control Risks Ltd. v. Corporate Risk International (E.D. Va. 1994)(on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Ganz Bros. Toys v. Midwest Importers (E.D. Va. 1993) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Saban Entertainment, Inc. v. 222 World Corp. , 865 F. Supp. 1047 (S.D.N.Y. 1994) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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NEXxUS Products Co. v. Gentle Concepts, Inc. , 28 U.S.P.Q.2d 1257 (M.D. Fla. 1993) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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National Rural Electric Cooperative Ass'n v. National Agricultural Chemical Ass'n, 26 U.S.P.Q.2d 1294 (D.D.C. 1992) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
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Caterpillar Inc. v. Kat-Parts, Inc. (S.D. Tex. 1992) (on behalf of Plaintiff)
Professional
Activities
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International Trademark Association
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2007 Annual Meeting Committee Project Team Group Leader
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International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition
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Lobbied passage of Maryland state anti-counterfeiting statute
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International Trademark Association
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2005 Anti-Counterfeiting Seminar Forum Project Team
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International Trademark Association
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2003 Madrid 101 Distance Learning Seminar Project Team
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International Trademark Association
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Programs, Public Relations and Legislation Committees
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International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition
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Former Biannual Meeting Co-Chair
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American Intellectual Property Law Association
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Member
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American Bar Association
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Intellectual Property and Litigation Sections; Entertainment and Sports Industry Forum
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District of Columbia Bar Association; Sections of Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law
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Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law
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Women's Bar Association of Washington, D.C.
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Sustaining Member, Intellectual Property Law Committee
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Virginia State Bar Association
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Member, Intellectual Property Section
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Ohio State Bar Association
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Member
Recent Publications
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Book chapter, "State Trademark and Unfair Competition Law Remedies," Trademark Infringement Remedies, (ABA/BNA 2006; Supp. 2007).
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"Defending Copyright Infringement Claims Involving the 'Total Look and Feel' of Literary and Artistic Works", American Intellectual Property Law Association, Fall 1995, AIPLA Selected Legal Papers.
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"Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988 and Its Impact on Trademark Prosecution and Enforcement in the U.S.," 3 The Corporate Analyst 176 (1991) (Co-Author).
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"A Journalist's View of The Progressive Case: A Look at the Press, Prior Restraint and the First Amendment from the Pentagon Papers Cases to the Future," 41 Ohio State L.J. 1165 (1980).