Many trademark owners will set up a “monitor” to be notified if others are applying to register similar trademarks. The monitors can send an alert when a new application is filed or when it is published for others to oppose. So when you apply to register “Air Jordan” for your new line of shoes, chancesRead More…
How Long Can I Extend A Trademark Application?
If you are not yet using a trademark, but have a legitimate intent to use it, you can still apply to register it with the USPTO. However, if your application is allowed, you eventually do have to provide evidence that you are using the trademark. Typically you have six months after allowance, but that deadline can beRead More…
Can A Generic Term Be A Trademark?
No. A “generic name” is typically the name of the product or service itself, as opposed to a brand name for the company that provides the product or service. If a term is “generic,” it cannot identify and distinguish the products of only one seller, which is what a trademark does. But context matters. A termRead More…
Is the USPTO really calling or texting me?
Spam phone calls, emails, and texts are nothing new – whether they involve highway tolls you supposedly owe, “tax resolution options,” alleged job recruiters, or a good old-fashioned Nigerian prince. But a trademark-themed scam is rising to the level that the federal government is warning people. The Federal Trade Commission issued a notice this week to trademark filersRead More…
How Long Do Trademarks Last?
Diamonds may be forever, but trademarks (at least in the U.S.) typically only last as long as they are being used in connection with goods and services. That said, trademark registrations do have to be renewed periodically. For a federal registration, “maintenance” documents (and filing fees) have to be submitted at certain intervals. The USPTORead More…