In this article: United States Patent and Trademark (USPTO) records are public which allows Trademark scammers to target applicants for new and existing trademark applications and registrations. The most common plays include attempting to trick you into paying fake “government fees”, messages that pretend your application has a problem, and messages that pretend a [...]

Receiving a Section 2(e)(1) refusal to a trademark application typically means that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has determined that the mark is merely descriptive of the goods or services listed on the application. Merely descriptive trademarks, while often appealing to business owners, are not eligible for federal trademark registration through [...]

According to Q4 2023 data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), about 35% of those who filed applications gained approval upon first action. In other words, these applications led to approvals without any pushback from the USPTO. The remaining 65%, however, likely encountered a range of challenges during the application process. [...]

If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) believes an applied for mark is registerable and it was not in use at the time the trademark application was filed,  the USPTO issues the trademark applicant a Notice of Allowance (NOA) during the trademark registration process. However, the NOA only indicates preliminary approval; proof [...]

Any type of intellectual property (IP) such as a word, design, sound, or slogan/phrase, that connects a company with a particular service or good, is a trademark and should be protected. When a company comes up with distinguishable and unique intellectual property it can benefit them and give them an edge over their competition. [...]

Federally registering a trademark can be an exciting step for a brand. Registration provides protections, and registering on a federal level encourages entrepreneurs to envision seeing their brand become a household name one day. However, the registration and visions of fame come with responsibilities. The main responsibility attending a trademark is maintaining it. Registration [...]

When you register your trademark, you likely do so to protect it against infringement. When others use your registered trademark without your permission, this is infringement. In some cases, infringement can lead to trademark litigation as the trademark owner seeks compensation for damages they have suffered as a result of the infringing activity. The [...]

Occasionally, a company develops and uses a trademark but does not find the time to register it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A trademark owner in this position may find that when they try to register their mark to acquire federal protection, a similar registration or application already exists, leading [...]

Per the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it is the responsibility of registered trademark owners and applicants to regularly check their registration or application status. Doing this is vital since it ensures current and prospective trademark registrants are aware of any additional documentation they need to forward to the USPTO to maintain [...]

Registering a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides a mark owner with legal protections over the use and possession of their creation. Any type of identifying creation that establishes the source of various goods or services can benefit from a federally registered trademark. Symbols, phrases, and other designs, therefore, could qualify.  [...]