Supreme Court Holds That A "Generic.Com" Name May Function As A Protectable Trademark

In U.S. Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com, No. 19-46, the Supreme Court held that styled "generic.com" names can get trademark protection. On June 30, 2020, the Supreme Court addressed the subject of generic trademarks for the first time since the operable Lanham Act (1946).

The case revolved around the question of whether "booking.com" was a generic term for booking services and, therefore, incapable of trademark protection. The parties agreed that "booking," standing alone, would be a generic term, but disputed whether the addition of the ".com" changed the analysis. In its decision, the Court held that the styled "The case revolved around the question of whether "booking.com" was a generic term for booking services and, therefore, incapable of trademark protection. The parties agreed that "booking," standing alone, would be a generic term, but disputed whether the addition of the ".com" changed the analysis. In its decision, the Court held that the