On November 15, 2024, the U.S. Trademark Office issued a final rule that will not only cost trademark owners more in 2025, but also change the way applications are filed going forward. The new rules and fees are set to go...more
On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) issued a Request for Comment on how AI technology could affect the PTO’s evaluation of patentability, particularly with respect to qualifying prior art and the...more
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
A key component of any effective brand protection strategy is an anti-counterfeiting program. How can a brand owner protect its reputation and rights against counterfeiters, infringers and pirates? The answer will depend not...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
Throughout 2022, the procedural rules of the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and the newly formed Copyright Claims Board (CCB) underwent several developments. The PTO outlined a new administrative process for addressing...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
On January 2, 2021, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Trademark Office) will introduce the modified and new trademark fees summarized below....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
Prior to January 17, 2020, extensions of time were readily available during Canadian trademark prosecution. A single six-month extension could be secured without providing any substantive reasons. Further six-month...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
In June, we covered the Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in Oil States Energy Servs., LLC v. Greene’s Energy Grp., LLC, 137 S. Ct. 2239 (2017). The Court will decide whether inter partes review – an adversarial process...more