New York University v. National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

At trial before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (TTAB), the Firm prevailed on behalf of client New York University (“NYU”)—owner of the famous NYU and NEW YORK UNIVERSITY marks for undergraduate and post-graduate educational services—in its challenge to an attempt to register the mark NYCU for educational services filed by a Taiwanese university named National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. In a decision dated December 19, 2025, the TTAB concluded that the NYU mark is “extremely strong” in connection with educational services and that the NYCU and NYU marks are “very similar in appearance and sound” and are “likely to project a similar commercial impression and connotation.” The Board therefore had “no difficulty” finding a likelihood of confusion between the NYU and NYCU marks.