The USPTO will increase certain trademark government fees starting on January 18, 2025, and certain patent government fees on January 19, 2025. Below are some of the most common situations in which you may be affected by the fee increases. This is not an exhaustive list of the fee increases and new fees. Trademark Fee Increases All new applications filed …
Best Practices for Selecting a New Trademark While Avoiding Risks
The trademark selection process can be daunting. There are multiple business, marketing, and legal considerations that can often conflict. Whether an established business is selecting a trademark for a new product launch or a start-up is adopting its first trademark to define its brand identity, it is important to be proactive and adopt best practices. Doing so can help secure …
Best Practices for Minimizing Future Risks and Enforcing Trademark Rights
When adopting and using a new trademark, knowledge is power. Understanding and implementing best practices for trademark adoption, use and maintenance can help minimize future risks. Use and successful registration of a mark is only the beginning. A trademark owner has a duty to monitor and enforce its trademark or risk narrowing the scope of its rights to the mark. …
The Importance of Enrolling in a Trademark Watch Service
While trademark registration is a crucial initial step in protecting intellectual property, ongoing vigilance is essential to maintain and enforce these rights. Trademark watch services play a vital role in this continuous protection strategy, offering businesses a proactive approach to safeguarding their brand assets. What is a Trademark Watch Service? A trademark watch service is a monitoring system that actively …
Trademark Cancellation Proceedings vs. Opposition Proceedings – What is the Difference?
Trademark cancellation and opposition proceedings are initiated by parties who believe they will be or are harmed by the registration of a certain trademark. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the USPTO adjudicates these proceedings. The main difference between the two proceedings is that cancellation proceedings are filed against existing registrations and opposition proceedings are filed against pending …
What to Do If Someone is Infringing on Your Trademark
Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a trademark or a service mark on or in connection with goods or services in a manner that is likely to cause confusion as to the source of the goods or services. Trademark infringement can result in the loss of goodwill in a brand, the weakening of the brand’s recognition, and the loss …
Important Information Regarding Trademark Scams
Trademark owners should be aware of the existence of trademark scams. These scams include letters, emails, and phone calls designed to appear as if they are coming from an official source or agency, even from the United States Patent & Trademark Office, fraudulently attempting to obtain payments from trademark owners. It is important to be aware of how to identify …
What to Do If Your Trademark is Rejected
If a USPTO examining attorney believes that your trademark does not comply with the trademark registration requirements, your trademark application will be rejected. This could be for a number of reasons, such as a likelihood of confusion between your mark and another registered trademark, your mark failing to function as a trademark, or your mark being perceived as descriptive or …
Everything You Need to Know About Domain Name Disputes
A website is often a natural extension of a business’ offline presence. A domain name that reflects a business name or trademark serves as an important tool to attract customers and build brand recognition. As a result, domain name registration is typically part of a branding and marketing strategy. Abusive registrations of domain names by third parties to monetize on …
Four Mistakes That Can Render Your Trademark Application or Registration Void
While the trademark process may seem quite simple, especially in comparison to the patent process, there are quite a number of traps for the unwary or unrepresented applicant to fall into. If made, some of these mistakes are fixable, but unfortunately, some are not and may require starting the application process from the beginning. In this article, we discuss those …
