A frequently asked question in my practice is what filing basis should our company rely on in applying for a U.S. trademark application. As many readers may know there are multiple filing bases and to learn more about the basic information for each filing basis, please review our web page…
A couple of weeks ago, the Board issued a decision (although not precedential) that will be helpful to those applicants submitting Responses to Office Actions to surname refusals, see In re Fair Isaac Germany GmbH, Serial No. 87424333 (May 28, 2019). This case is interesting because it reverted back to placing…
This week I addressed one issue repeatedly with prospective clients and the dialogue prompted me to write this blog. Generally, trademark attorneys counsel clients to avoid descriptive marks that will register on the Supplemental Register. For the basic facts regarding the Principal and Supplemental Registers, see our webpage entitled, Filing…
Trademark applicants should be mindful of the statements made during a trademark prosecution at the United States Patent & Trademark Office (“USPTO”). In fact, an applicant’s words may be used against them in a later proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) or in a court. A…
Under Section 2(e)4 of the Trademark Act a mark that is primarily merely a surname can not be registered on the Principal Register absent a showing of acquired distinctiveness under Section 2(f) of the Trademark Act. See Suisman, Shapiro, Wool, Brennan, Gray & Greenberg P.C. v. Suisman, 80 U.S.P.Q.2d 1072,…
Trademark applicants must be cautious when relying too heavily on third–party uses. This is an area where an experienced trademark attorney will be able to guide a trademark applicant in the right direction. Do not make the mistake of arguing that the existence of third-party registrations with similar terms can…
This recent precedent of the TTAB involves concurrent use registration. This trademark concept allows two unrelated trademark owners to co-exist with legally identical trademarks, each having a registration limited to a distinct geographic area. As practitioners we work with clients with concurrent use issues. However, the TTAB does not render…
There are multiple benefits of filing for federal trademark protection. In the recent decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), Central Garden & Pet Company v. Doskocil Manufacturing Co., Inc. Opposition No. 91188816 (August 16, 2013) [citable as precedent], one more reason is given to trademark applicants to…