Pinterest lost a trademark infringement suit filed against trip-planning website Pintrips.
Pinterest claimed that the Pintrips has chosen a name deceptively close to its trademark. Pinterest also claimed rights in “pin” and “pinning” used in relation to social media and bookmarking. Pinterest does not own a trademark for the word “pin”.
The court acknowledged that the names look and sound similar. Yet it did not find the use of the word “pin” by Pintrips to be infringing. According to the court Pintrips was using the term to describe its goods or services. The use of the word “pin” and “pinning” are too generic. The court states: “Pinterest cannot prohibit other companies from using the word pin to describe that well-known operation, which is exactly how the evidence demonstrates that Pintrips uses the word pin here”. More at: http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/news/pinterest-loses-pintrips-trademark-case-4528
