There's Only One Mustang Ranch

The Seattle Trademark Lawyer reports on a 9th Circuit decision affirming ownership of the mark MUSTANG RANCH. It's a long saga, where the government seized the ranch and all its property then stumbled around for years trying to figure out what to do with it. David and Ingrid Burgess then adopted the mark and later sued the eventual purchaser of the government's rights, Lance Gilman. Gilman survived challenges of his ownership based on abandonment and assignment in gross.

Seattle Trademark Lawyer post here. News reporting of trial court decision here. Description of the history of the ranch and the various transfers in Burgess v. Gilman, 78 U.S.P.Q.2d 1773, 2006 WL 449212 (D. Nev. Feb. 23 2006).

© 2008 Pamela Chestek