Tavern on the Green auction to begin

“Bidders hungry for a piece of Tavern on the Green will soon have their shot. The auction of the storied restaurant’s chandeliers, Tiffany lamp shades, linens and other items takes place Jan. 13, 14 and 15. The legal dispute over the name Tavern on the Green, however, is expected to continue long after the LeRoy family finishes auctioning off the furnishings of the Central Park restaurant.”

“In a recent update since the video was filmed, the city’s request to trademark the Tavern in the Park name was turned down. The ruling, however, doesn’t mean the city can’t use the name, said the city’s senior intellectual property attorney Gerald Singleton in a statement. ‘The city is engaged in standard administrative proceedings with the trademark office. We are free to use the name Tavern in the Park.”

Howrey partner Terry Gillis (NY) was interviewed by The Deal and asked to comment on the Tavern’s delay in filing the city’s request to trademark the name. “It’s a compelling argument, in the trademark world a delay always works against you in court because you are expected to act promptly. The city sending the Leroy family a letter and doing nothing arguably lulled the Leroy family into believing the city really isn’t asserting its rights,” she said.