Ford Motor Co. has upped the ante in its trademark dispute with General Motors Co. and its Cruise LLC affiliate over the word “Cruise.” Ford said Aug. 13 it would petition the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel GM’s “Super Cruise” mark.

But we’re getting an earlier preview of how that strategy will play out in the San Francisco courtroom of U.S. District Judge Susan Illston of the Northern District of California.