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Two of your greatest business assets are your company reputation and brand. Potential customers or clients will choose your goods and services when they recognize your unique name and mark. The trademark registration process is important to protect t…
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Elon Musk, Tesla Inc.’s CEO, is one of the most creative business thinkers of our time. The inspiration for his Tesla car and company was Nikola Tesla, an electrical engineer in the early 1900s who was considered a true genius. Unfortunately, he di…
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Regardless of the type of business you own, protecting your brand should be your first priority. However, you may be wondering whether a trademark can safeguard the logo, slogan, or design on a product when it is legal within your state, but not at t…
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A recent Nike trademark dispute between the company and MSCHF Product Studio, Inc. garnered a considerable amount of attention. It also brings to light several crucial trademark litigation lessons. Notably, the litigation demonstrates the importance…
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Suspensions are when your application is on hold. There are various reasons a trademark application can be suspended. However “likelihood of confusion” with prior application(s) filed and submission of foreign application are the most common reasons the USPTO may suspend an application. During a trademark suspension period, your lawyer will provide guidance on the next steps and whether it might be best to file an argument or pursue a coexistence agreement.
A disclaimer usually refers to a statement which indicates that you are not claiming exclusive rights to use the word(s) or a design element in your trademark application. A disclaimer allows for registration without creating a false impression of the registrant’s rights.
A good example of this is disclaiming “café” if your services are for a café.
If a trademark is not eligible for the Principal Registry, there is sometimes an option to register on the Supplemental Registry.
In cases where the USPTO finds the trademark application is merely ornamental, merely descriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive, the USPTO may allow the application to be registered on the Supplemental Registry. However, over time, the mark may acquire distinctiveness and possibly become eligible for the Principal Registry.
Two dates must be specified in a trademark application:
Date of First Use Anywhere: The “anywhere” refers to use in the U.S. or elsewhere. This is the date the goods were first sold or transported, or the services were first rendered under the mark. The use must also have been bona fide and in the ordinary course of trade.
Date of First Use in Commerce: This is the date when the goods were first sold or transported, or the services were first rendered under the mark in interstate or international commerce. The use of the mark must have been bona fide and in the ordinary course of trade.
The renewal timeframe for a trademark is between the 9th and 10th year anniversary of the trademark registration, and then in ten-year intervals. It is important to be aware that the USPTO also requires a registrant to provide an affidavit at the 5th and 6th years of ownership stating that the trademark is still being used in commerce. Failure to comply with the renewal timeframes or the affidavit requirements will result in the cancellation of the trademark registration.
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