Marsha Gentner Image

Marsha Gentner

is a Senior Counsel in Dykema’s Intellectual Property Group. Ms. Gentner focuses her practice on the management of global trademark portfolios. In addition to filing and maintaining an extensive docket of registrations throughout the world, Ms. Gentner supervises enforcement actions, including proceedings before local trademark authorities, customs and court seizures, and civil and criminal counterfeit actions around the globe. She handles transactional and licensing negotiations and disputes with manufacturers, suppliers, and international distribution networks, as well as due diligence.

For more information or to contact Marsha, please visit her Firm Profile Page.

Recent Articles by Marsha Gentner

The Washington Football Team’s Trademark Journey: Over the Bumps and Full Speed Ahead

You’ve probably heard that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has refused to register the current name of the Washington NFL franchise – “The Washington Football Team”. This is just the latest road block in the long running saga of the Team’s name. But actually, on closer look, it’s more like a small bump, and here is why. After years of ultimately successful litigation, on July 13, 2020, the Washington NFL franchise finally succumbed to what had become not only a public, but a very damaging corporate sponsor, outcry to change the Team’s name and logo. The Team publicly announced on that day that it would use the name “Washington Football Team” until a new name and logo were selected.

Washington’s NFL Team is in a Race Against Time to Find Its New Trademark

After decades of legal battles in which they ultimately succeeded in maintaining the legal right to federal trademark registration of the “REDSKINS” moniker—through the separate efforts of an Asian band by the name of “The Slants”—Washington, D.C.’s National Football League (NFL) team finally succumbed to pressure to change their name. Faced with the immediate prospect of losing $45 million from a stadium naming rights deal with Federal Express, on July 13, 2020, the team announced it would have a new name and logo. Still to come: the new name and logo.