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Trademarks › United States Patent and Trademark Office

A Trademark is a legally registered distinctive mark or sign which identifies goods, products or services that originate or are associated with a particular person or enterprise . A typical example of a trademark... more +
A Trademark is a legally registered distinctive mark or sign which identifies goods, products or services that originate or are associated with a particular person or enterprise . A typical example of a trademark would be a company's logo such as the Nike "Check" or McDonald's "Golden Arches."  less -
McDermott Will & Schulte

When is a word too common to trademark? Asking for a four-letter friend

McDermott Will & Schulte on

In response to artist and entrepreneur Erik Brunetti’s ongoing efforts to register FUCK as a trademark for various goods and services, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated the Trademark Trial & Appeal...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

TTAB Extends Time to Respond to a Complaint (With a Caveat)

Womble Bond Dickinson on

Per a Federal Register Notice today from the USPTO, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) has extended the time period to respond to a complaint in a TTAB trial proceeding to sixty (60) days. ...more

WilmerHale

PTAB/USPTO Update - September 2025

WilmerHale on

On August 28, President Trump nullified via executive order the USPTO’s December 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which covers approximately 9,000 patent examiners and other professionals at the USPTO....more

Foster Swift Collins & Smith

IP Monday: Choosing a Trademark That Won’t Get Rejected

Foster Swift Collins & Smith on

Picking a new business name? A trademark is more than just a logo — it’s your brand identity. If you invest in a weak or unregistrable name, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may refuse registration. That...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Earmuffs, Kids: The Federal Circuit Delivers the F-bomb Right Back to the TTAB

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP on

The Federal Circuit’s recent precedential decision in In re Erik Brunetti has surely raised some eyebrows in the trademark community (and beyond), not just for its subject matter (the attempted registration of a certain...more

International Lawyers Network

Can a Difference in Punctuation between a Trademark in a Drawing and Specimen of Use be Allowed for Registration?

International Lawyers Network on

Suppose you want to register a trademark that identifies a source of goods/services for your business. What if the trademark on the specimen of use has punctuation that is different from the drawing of the trademark in the...more

Weintraub Tobin

(Podcast) The Briefing - The Doctrine of Foreign Equivalents: What It Means for Your Brand

Weintraub Tobin on

You came up with a clever brand name in a foreign language—great! But did you know it might be refused by the USPTO? In this episode of The Briefing, Scott Hervey and Richard Buckley break down what a doctrine is, how...more

Jaburg Wilk

International Trademark Protection: How to Safeguard Your Brand Globally

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U.S. trademark rights stop at the border. If your business operates internationally or plans to expand abroad, you need to understand how to protect your trademark rights beyond the United States. Unlike the U.S., many...more

American Conference Institute (ACI)

[Virtual Conference] Passport to Proficiency on the Essentials of Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA - October 14th - 30th, 1:00 pm EST

American Conference Institute (ACI) on

ACI’s virtual Annual Passport to Proficiency on the Essentials of Hatch-Waxman and BPCIA equips early-career professionals with the legal and regulatory fluency needed to contribute meaningfully to product strategy and...more

DarrowEverett LLP

Trademark Rights Explained: Common Law vs. Federal Registration

DarrowEverett LLP on

Whether a business is launching a new product or rebranding an existing company, selecting a name, logo, or slogan is a crucial decision. Trademarks are powerful tools that identify the source of goods or services and protect...more

Mayer Brown

Key Court Decisions: Functional and Generic Trademarks

Mayer Brown on

In this episode of The Upper Brand, Richard Assmus, Kristine Young, and Christa Cole delve into key court cases that have shaped trademark law. They explore the intricacies of functional and generic trademarks, with insights...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

IP Hot Topic: USPTO Doubles Down on Trademark Security – Is Your Email Current?

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C. on

As part of its ongoing effort to stop scammers from third-party trademark applications and registrations, the USPTO has enhanced security of the Change Address or Representation (CAR) forms by adding authorization...more

Cranfill Sumner LLP

The Strategic Value of Trademark Search Before Brand Adoption and USPTO Application

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In the competitive landscape of branding and intellectual property, conducting a trademark search before adopting a brand name or filing a trademark application is not just best practice—it’s strategically necessary. This...more

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP

The Federal Circuit takes on Kisses, Sunlight, and Soft Drinks

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP on

An application for a US trademark may be rejected if it is likely, when used on or in connection with the goods of the applicant, to cause confusion with another registered mark. On July 23, in Sunkist Growers, Inc. v....more

Roetzel & Andress

Trademark First: The Gateway to Amazon Brand Registry

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Amazon is the biggest third-party online marketplace in the United States and a go-to platform for numerous businesses. However, to get the most out of selling on Amazon, it is essential to join the Amazon Brand Registry....more

Fenwick & West LLP

Federal Circuit Confirms: Prosecution History Disclaimer Applies to Design Patents Too

Fenwick & West LLP on

Many industries rely on design patents to protect the look and feel of their products—especially when aesthetics drive customer interest, brand identity, or market differentiation. In Top Brand LLC v. Cozy Comfort Company...more

Jaburg Wilk

The Trademark Registration Process: Step-by-Step Guide

Jaburg Wilk on

Registering a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides significant legal benefits, including nationwide protection and the presumption of ownership. Federal registration is a smart investment for...more

McDermott Will & Schulte

Victory lap: Extraterritorial injunction permitted for breach of settlement agreement

McDermott Will & Schulte on

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a permanent injunction, concluding that the district court properly determined that a party’s violation of a settlement agreement would lead to irreparable harm. Wudi...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

AI Search Tool Coming to Design Patent Examination

Quarles & Brady LLP on

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the rollout of DesignVision, an advanced AI‑powered image search tool now integrated into the examination system for U.S. design patent applications. According to the...more

Jaburg Wilk

What Is a Trademark? Understanding the Basics

Jaburg Wilk on

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design—or a combination of these—that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods or services of one party from those of others. Essentially, a trademark is your brand’s identity...more

International Lawyers Network

Can Non-English Language Trademarks Be Refused Registration Based on the Foreign Equivalents Doctrine?

International Lawyers Network on

Suppose that you want to register your trademark that is in a non-English language on goods or services for your business in the United States. Will your non-English language trademark need to be translated to English to...more

Knobbe Martens

The Federal Circuit Grounds US SPACE FORCE Trademark Application

Knobbe Martens on

IN RE THOMAS D. FOSTER, APC, - Before Moore, Prost, and Stoll. Appeal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act bars registration of a pending application for a mark that falsely...more

WilmerHale

PTAB/USPTO Update - July 2025

WilmerHale on

On June 12, the nominee for USPTO Director John Squires was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 20-2.  His nomination has been placed on the Senate’s Executive Calendar and will proceed to a floor vote....more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Know the Rules or Get Burned: TTAB Smolders Oppositions for Failure to Prosecute

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In Adaptive Energy LLC v. Central Coast Agriculture, Inc., the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) dismissed two oppositions for failure to prosecute. Oppositions Nos. 91275644 and 91280840 (April 11, 2025). The...more

Baker Donelson

Trademark Trouble: When the F-Word Fails to Function

Baker Donelson on

Recent Supreme Court decisions underscore how viewpoint-based refusals of trademark applications are unconstitutional. But can these viewpoint-based refusals survive under the "failure-to-function" doctrine instead?...more

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