Fame Law: Requiring Proof of National Fame in Trademark Law

The public has always been infatuated with fame. Trademark law likewise has a long history of infatuation with fame. Protecting the fame embodied in a trademark against dilutive use by others has not been easy. The difficulty stems from the wording of the statute and judicial failure to understand the "fame" requirement.

The fundamental question centers on what level of fame is required for the property-like protection against subsequent uses that dilute the famous trademark. This Article argues for national fame to be the requisite requirement for property-like anti-dilution protection under trademark law. The Article recommends that the proof of national fame should be survey evidence showing at least seventy percent of the general consuming public across the United States recognizing the trademark. Bestowing trademarks property-like protection to those with proof of national fame strikes a reasonable balance between the interests of trademark owners and the public.