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The purpose of registering a trademark is to protect your unique brand from being used or misappropriated by others. Significantly, trademark registration doesn’t only safeguard your distinct mark from being used without your permission — it also…
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Trademark owners should be aware of several recent USPTO updates that may significantly affect them. Most notably, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has recently implemented the Trademark Modernization Act. Passed in December 2020 — and…
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When you invest the time and effort to apply for a registered trademark for your brand, logo, catchphrase, or identifying mark, the work doesn’t stop there. Situations can arise that force you to challenge another trademark application or initiate…
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For centuries, October has conjured images of ghosts, goblins, and children in costumes singing, “Trick or Treat!” Lately, there’s been an onslaught of television shows and movies depicting creepy societies determined to raise the dead, and zom…
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You have a great idea for a startup business or new product. You’ve spent time and money brainstorming, gathering the right team, and creating something truly unique and valuable to consumers. Then it occurs to you… “Do I need a business tradem…
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If you own a cellphone, computer, or television you have probably heard of the technology giant, Apple Inc. Many companies are eager to challenge Apple’s dominance in the tech market, including a small, Atlanta-based company called Social Technolog…
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You have created a new product or service with a great name, logo design, or catchphrase. To protect your product and business reputations and ensure no one else will be able to use your name or design, you need to register your trademark. Before you…
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If you want to create a product or service with a unique brand, name, or logo, you should consider protecting your intellectual property with a trademark. But what does trademark mean, and are you required to register a trademark? In this article, we…
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The Rose Bowl is American college football’s oldest post-season bowl game. Although it began in 1902, before the Rose Bowl Pasadena stadium was built, the annual battle between two of the top college football teams has been played in Pasadena, Cali…
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Once your business has developed a unique branded product or service, you can protect your company’s rights to exclusive use of that brand with a trademark application. Simply placing a logo or tagline on your product and entering the stream of com…
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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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