The newest drama involves a cartoon cat named “Snooky” from the children’s book Adventures of Snooky; Under the Sea by Karen Monaghan and Maureen Monaghan-Fabe. Quite the cat’s meow, the book won an American Graphic Design Award in 2004. “The situation” started when Snooki tried to trademark her name for use on books. Under the Lanham Act, a trademark should not be registered if it “so resembles a mark registered in the Patent and Trademark Office . . . as to be likely when used or in connection with goods or the application, to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.” According to a document on The Smoking Gun, the United States Patent and Trademark Office dug their claws in and refused to register the mark because of a likelihood of confusion between “Snooky” in “Adventures of Snooky” and “Snooki” when used on books.

However, Snooki does not have to take her poof down yet. A decision to refuse registration by an examiner can be appealed with the Trademark Trial Appeal Board. Until then, there is always season three.

– Jenn Weizenecker

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