Legal Definitions - related good

A related good, in the context of trademark law, refers to a product or service that, while not directly competing with an existing trademarked product or service, uses a similar or identical mark in a way that is likely to confuse consumers. The confusion arises because consumers might mistakenly believe that the related good originates from, is endorsed by, or is otherwise associated with the owner of the original, well-known trademark, even though the two offerings exist in different market segments.

• Luxury Fashion Brand and Home Fragrances: Imagine a renowned high-fashion house, "Veridian Vogue," famous for its exclusive clothing lines and accessories. An unrelated company begins selling a line of scented candles and diffusers under the name "Veridian Vogue Home Scents."

  Even though candles and clothing are distinct products, consumers familiar with the luxury fashion brand might reasonably assume that Veridian Vogue has expanded its brand into high-end home decor or licensed its name for such products. This creates confusion about the source or sponsorship of the home scents, making them a related good that could infringe on the original trademark.

• Children's Educational Software and Snack Foods: Consider a popular developer of educational apps and games for children, known as "Brainy Bytes." An unauthorized food manufacturer then launches a new line of fruit snacks called "Brainy Bytes Bites."

  While educational software and fruit snacks are not direct competitors, parents and children might easily connect the two. Given the established reputation of Brainy Bytes in children's education, consumers could mistakenly believe that the snack foods are endorsed by, developed by, or officially associated with the educational software company, leading to trademark infringement as a related good.