Hana Financial, Inc. v. Hana Bank (U.S. Supreme Court)

Trademark tacking permits a trademark owner to make insubstantial alterations to a mark without losing priority. Tacking is permitted in only the most narrow of circumstances; the two marks must qualify as “legal equivalents.” The courts of appeals have divided as to whether this presents a question of law for a judge to resolve or a question of fact for a jury. Hana Financial, Inc. retained us to draft a petition for certiorari, which the Supreme Court granted. The Court ultimately ruled in favor of respondent.