Technology
Resolving Conflicts Between State and Federal Trademark Registrations
Quick fact
Federal trademark registrations generally trump state registrations because the Lanham Act provides nationwide protection, and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution makes federal law the supreme law of the land when the two conflict.
Why this is interesting
Imagine two companies in different states both legally using the same logo—one with only a state registration, the other with a federal one. If they clash in court, who wins? The answer reveals a fundamental hierarchy that shapes trademark law.