With the growth of mobile apps, non-tech companies face the challenge of creating apps to promote and sell their services or goods. Because the creation of an app can be a one-time project, hiring an independent software...more
The October issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter discusses use in commerce as applied to mobile applications and services, outlines best practices for ensuring your business owns artwork and textual works...more
Canada has amended its Trademark Law, and although the amended Law's effective date is not yet known, brand owners can expect three significant changes to Canadian trademark law practice.
First, to U.S. brand owners...more
In This Issue:
- Hashtag Trademarks: #ItsAllAboutTheUse
- Upcoming Changes in Canadian Trade Mark Trademark Law
- Changes in U.S Certification Mark Requirements
- gTLD Sunrise Periods Now Open
- The...more
Brand owners interested in protecting their intellectual property in Russia should be aware of two recent important changes to Russian trademark law.
A win for senior trademark rights holder: Publication of trademark...more
On May 13, 2015, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) will begin accepting U.S. design patent applications under the Hague Agreement. This agreement allows U.S. applicants to file up to 100 designs in over 64 member...more
In This Issue:
- I Second that e-Motion: Protecting Motion Marks
- USPTO Begins Accepting International Design Applications
- Attending INTA Annual Meeting
- gTLD Sunrise Periods Now Open
- Excerpt...more
For several years now, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been concerned about the amount of "deadwood" on the U.S. trademark Register – registrations that remain in force, but cover marks that are not actually...more
Effective January 17, 2015, the USPTO has announced a number of fee reductions for 2015, including a $50 reduction in the cost to file electronic applications ...more
As first reported in our December 2013 newsletter, the first new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, the group of letters after the "dot" in a domain name) have launched their "Sunrise" registration periods. Please see our...more
The December issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter includes news on how the USPTO is tackling its "deadwood" problem, the reduced USPTO fees for 2015, and an updated list of the Sunrise periods currently...more
When used effectively, brand and merchandise licensing can increase the value of a brand by extending it into new, relevant product categories and by further monetizing brand equity. And when seeking to protect a brand in...more
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's recent decision in Anthropologie, Inc. and Urban Outfitters Wholesale, Inc. v. Happy Green Company LLC is a good reminder of why, when...more
As first reported in our December 2013 newsletter, the first new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, the group of letters after the "dot" in a domain name) have launched their "Sunrise" registration periods. Please see our...more
The November issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter includes a case study on bona fide intent to use, a resolution to Anthropologie's opposition to the mark, and an updated list of the Sunrise periods...more
We brand geeks at MarkIt to Market occasionally like to explore the history of interesting trademarks. A recent visit to Germany inspired a look into the history of the Störtebeker beer brand, which derives its name from one...more
As first reported in our December 2013 newsletter, the first new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, the group of letters after the "dot" in a domain name) have launched their "Sunrise" registration periods. Please see our...more
Earlier this fall, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office posted its final version of Examination Guide 3-14 on the topic of Service Mark Specimens. Among other things, this guide reviews the requirements for service mark...more
The October issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter reviews some highlights from the new USPTO Service Mark Specimens Examination Guide, considers the colorful history of the Störtebeker beer brand name, and...more
As first reported in our December 2013 newsletter, the first new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, the group of letters after the "dot" in a domain name) have launched their "Sunrise" registration periods. Please see our...more
Whether it’s black or white may not have mattered to Michael Jackson (at least that's how the song goes), but it does seem to matter now to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) and other trademark...more
If your company was an early registrant in the Trademark Clearinghouse, it is likely your registrations had an effective date of November 5, 2014, the date the Clearinghouse went “live.” If so, the deadline to renew one-year...more
The September issue of Sterne Kessler's MarkIt to MarketTM newsletter contains an explanation of new guidelines on the treatment of color logos in the European Community, a reminder of the upcoming renewal deadline for the...more
Continuing our primate theme for this month's newsletter, we thought this would be as good a time as any to remind our readers as to the important distinction between copyrighted artistic works, and use of elements from those...more
As first reported in our December 2013 newsletter, the first new generic top-level domains (gTLDs, the group of letters after the "dot" in a domain name) have launched their "Sunrise" registration periods. Please see our...more