‘Hollywood’ Hotel, Casino Trademark Fight Survives Prior Dispute

Earlier litigation by the owner of the “Hollywood Casinos” trademarks to block registration of “Hollywood Hotel” doesn’t bar another dispute over the same marks, a trademark tribunal ruled Friday.

Hollywood Casinos LLC isn’t precluded from arguing that “Hollywood Hotel” is geographically descriptive as a hotel trademark, or that it would confuse consumers, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board said in a precedential ruling. No final judgment on those claims was made in nine years of the prior litigation, as Hollywood Casinos had prevailed because the party applying to register Hollywood Hotel didn’t technically own it.

Claim preclusion bars lawsuits arguing ...