The United States federal trademark registration process provides additional benefits to deter a third-party from fraudulent and unauthorized uses of a mark. A company or institution is not required to register a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. But, while Federal law prevents other companies from using the same, or similar, marks, there are a number of great reasons to file an application. For example, registration puts others on notice that your mark is legally protected. In the event that a competitor infringes on the trademark, registration is helpful in court to prove that you have the sole right to use the mark. Equally important is the fact that the United States is a “first to file” country when it comes to trademark rights and often failing to get your trademark on the register before another user can result in the loss of significant rights.
Trademark Searching
The first step in registering a trademark involves searching existing marks and common law users. This provides vital business intelligence on competition that may be using the same or similar marks. While conducting a basic investigation of the brand seems simple, an actual attorney-reviewed professional search will uncover phonetic equivalents, foreign language marks, and an array of other issues that non-lawyers typically do not discover.
What Does a Trademark Protect?
Trademark registration guarantees that you hold the exclusive legal rights and benefits in the United States that are afforded federal trademark law. It is one of the last legally protective monopolies in the United States, and one that you should take advantage of. Being the first to register a mark provides numerous benefits, including (i) nationwide notice of your claim to the mark, (ii) litigation advantages if your trademark is challenged, and (iii) prevention of a third-party’s registration of the confusingly similar mark. Likewise, under the Madrid Treaty, United States trademark registrations entitle the registrant to file in any or all of more than 90 countries internationally, relying on the United States trademark as a basis for the foreign trademark registration (occasionally called the Madrid Protocol).
Why Do You Need a Trademark Attorney?
A trademark litigation lawyer is a key to ensuring that the trademark is registered and that infringers and held accountable.
Is it Trademarkable?
A mark must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for protection under federal trademark law. First, the mark must be unique and distinctive. The design, slogan or phrase cannot be identical or significantly similar to an existing mark. A trademark litigation lawyer can research to certify that a certain mark is not already taken before filing an application with the Patent and Trademark Office.
Generic terms and those that simply describe a product or service are typically ineligible for trademark protection. Protection is not afforded to generic terms because the words are so often used in ordinary language that they are incapable of becoming unique or distinctive. Similarly, descriptive terms can only be trademarked if they are used and advertised to the effect that consumers come to associate the terms with the brand, product or service.
A company or institution whose trademark registration application is rejected has the right to appeal that decision. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board is a three-judge panel that reviews decisions by USPTO examining attorneys. Evidence and arguments are considered by the TTAB from both sides during an appeal prior to determining whether to uphold or overturn a denial of registration for a particular mark.
Trademark Rejections and Trademark Office Actions
Office actions are a type of response you may receive from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) regarding your trademark application. The USPTO outlines issues with the application that need to be addressed prior to granting registration. The issues cited in an Office Action can range from simple disclaimers to complex likelihood of confusion refusals, citing multiple marks. Furthermore, the response to an Office Action can affect the scope of the trademark’s final registration. It is important to respond to an Office Action with a complete understanding of the issues and response options. The attorneys at Sanders Law Group are experienced in these matters, and understand the host of potential direct response options, and even some indirect legal options (such as attempting to cancel an opposing mark or seeking concurrent use).
Trademark Trial and Appeals Board Cases
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) acts as a court of law for trademark registration matters within the USPTO. The trademark judges may determine your right to register a trademark, yet cannot rule on issues of infringement, damages, unfair competition or whether or not you have the right to use a trademark. We can advise, manage, and defend or prosecute TTAB cases in an efficient and intelligent manner
Domestic Registration of Trademarks
Certain states have specific requirements for trademark registration. Domestic trademark infringement typically occurs when an existing trademark in another state is not discovered due to an incomplete trademark review or search. Litigation may be necessary when disputes arise regarding the markets involved, allegations claiming trademark abandonment or similarity in design. The Lanham Act, and other trademark rights that are interpreted under the Act, adds to these difficulties. Our attorneys have the knowledge and experience needed to sort through what can be complicated, technical issues and ensure your trademark rights are enforced.