Numerous clients are receiving unsolicited emails from a company called Trademark Omega. Future versions may originate from companies with different names. For your protection, we advise you to read the fine print....more
The blog post, “What are the Types of Trademarks,” explained the distinction between Trademarks, Service Marks, State Marks, Federal Marks, and Common Law Marks, which are common types of protection for marks in the United...more
The number of existing valid registered trademarks in China is large, and the annual number of trademark applications is also large, which makes it difficult for enterprises to successfully register trademarks. According to...more
Decision 486 of 2000 of the Andean Community sets forth several events that may give rise to the rejection of trademark registration. Said events intend to protect the general interest that is involved in ensuring that no...more
Exclusive rights over a trademark in Colombia arise from registration. Also, when holding a trademark registration in Colombia, the obligation arises for its owner to use the trademark in commerce, beginning three (3) years...more
Exclusive rights over a trademark in Colombia arise solely from registration. Therefore, the general rule is that a trademark registered or protected under the legislation of a different country may not be used as valid...more
In an effort to speed up its slowing trademark registration turnaround times, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has shortened the deadline to respond to initial reviews of applications. Trademark applicants now...more
It’s a frustrating situation, to be sure, but fortunately you’re not without options. One of those options is arguing to the Trademark Office that your client’s Anchor Registration should entitle it to registration of its...more
Congratulations! Your company just acquired a batch of trademarks from a third party. There are a lot of minutiae to manage, so how do you decide what to do first? Here are some suggestions for actions you may want to...more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced that beginning on December 3, 2022, trademark applicants will have three months to respond to office actions issued by the USPTO. The current deadline is six...more
China has been speeding up its legislative efforts in protecting trademark rights and improving its trademark administration. In 2021, China issued a number of new rules and regulations on trademark practice....more
When a corporation expands its business into Canada, consideration should be given to whether it can register its brand as a trademark in this new market. While a corporation may operate in this market without registered...more
With all of the business interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, many worldwide trademark offices have taken steps to recognize the issues caused by the crisis. The offices in which applicants from the U.S. most...more
Since 1949, a green jacket has been awarded to the winner of the Masters Tournament, one of golf’s four major championships. Although Augusta National, Inc. had successfully registered the word mark GREEN JACKET as a...more
As a trademark attorney, devoted Baltimore Ravens fan, and furtive TMZ reader, I couldn’t help but notice this story authored recently, describing how Mark Ingram’s aspirations of registering BIG TRUSS in the US Trademark...more
As of Dec. 21, 2019, the U.S. Trademark Office will require that owners of applications and registrations provide a valid email address for communication. ...more
On May 2, 2019, the United States Trademark Office issued new Examination Guidelines for goods and services associated with cannabis and cannabis-derived products and services legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill. This crack in...more
If you have ever had a Coke Zero, what do you understand ZERO to mean – “zero calories,” “zero sugar,” “zero carbohydrates” or some combination of each? If your friend who never had a Coke Zero asked you what the difference...more
Selecting and protecting your “brand” should begin from the very moment a business is in the process of being formed, whether that business is a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or...more
It has long been possible to resurrect trademark applications and registrations that were inadvertently allowed to lapse. Effective July 8, any petition to revive an abandoned application or request to reinstate a trademark...more
After the fifth year of issuance of a U.S. trademark registration, the registration is eligible for “incontestable” status if the owner files a declaration with the U.S. Trademark Office confirming that (1) the mark has been...more
CASE SUMMARY - Every trademark lawyer knows that between the fifth and sixth year after registration the trademark owner must file an affidavit of use. If the mark has been in continuous use, the owner may also file an...more
Owners of U.S. trademark registrations need to know about a few recent rule changes and be mindful of the changes and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office requirements whenever a declaration of use is due....more
As we discussed in our blog post earlier this month, U.S. Trademark Office Sharpens Machete for Pruning Deadwood, the USPTO is implementing a new practice of randomly auditing maintenance declarations to request additional...more
Effective February 17, 2017, examiners at the U.S. Trademark Office may require trademark owners to submit more than one specimen of use per class of goods/services when registering a mark or maintaining a registration. The...more