Texas asked a federal court to declare that a coin and bullion seller can’t monopolize the state’s geographic shape as a purported trademark.
Texas Precious Metals LLC has made “extortionate” demands and filed several lawsuits against the state Bullion Depository and its manufacturers after the comptroller announced a commemorative coin and note program, the complaint filed Monday in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas said.
Texas’ lawsuit also asked the court to cancel the federal trademark registrations that TPM managed to secure—despite initial rejections—arguing a silhouette the state is generic, ornamental, and can’t function as a ...