Iskenderian

SUMMARY

Following a bench trial, the court found that rights to the trademark “Zankou Chicken” were validly assigned to two trusts, and that the trusts properly and effectively directed the distribution of the trademark rights to the three adult children of the trustor. We affirm the trial court’s order.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Rita Iskenderian brought a petition under Probate Code section 850, seeking a determination concerning the ownership of the trademark or trade name “Zankou Chicken.” She alleged that a trust created by her late mother-in-law, Markrid Iskenderian, purporting to distribute the rights to the trademark equally among her (Markrid’s) three children, was ineffective because the trademark was not the property of the trust. She alleged her late husband Mardiros, Markrid’s son, held all rights to the trademark at the time of his death, and she (Rita) is now the exclusive owner of the mark.

A bench trial elicited these facts. Vartkes and Markrid Iskenderian opened a chicken restaurant called Zankou Chicken in Beirut, Lebanon, many years ago. Vartkes and Markrid had three children: a son, Mardiros, and two daughters, Dzovig and Haygan. (We refer…