Is 'Fire Cider' Trademarked?

In 2015 Shire City Herbals, Inc., a beverage manufacturer in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, sued three companies for allegedly infringing Shire City Herbals' trademark in "fire cider." The lawsuit came in response to petitions certain herbalists filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Shire City Herbal's trademark. According to the herbalists, the term "fire cider" has been used for decades to refer to a common type of herbal remedy. The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is expected to decide whether Shire City Herbal's trademark registration should be cancelled due to the term "fire cider" being generic. In The New York Times article highlighting the case, IP litigation attorney Seth Coburn stated, "the defendants continue to believe that this term is generic, and are certainly hopeful that the court will agree." Verrill Dana is representing the herbalists pro bono.

To read the full article, visit NYTimes.com.