The has been a rise in fraudulent schemes targeting trademark applicants and owners, which is not surprising given the record number of applications being submitted to the United States Patent
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Fair Warning to Parties Choosing to Flout TTAB Discovery Orders: Comply or Suffer the Consequences
On January 23, 2023, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (the “Board”) issued a harsh reminder to parties of the potential adverse consequences of ignoring their discovery obligations and failing…
Continue Reading Fair Warning to Parties Choosing to Flout TTAB Discovery Orders: Comply or Suffer the ConsequencesAll I Want For Christmas Is…A Trademark?
When November 1st hits, you can almost guarantee that you will start hearing familiar Christmas songs, one of which being Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas.” The song…
Continue Reading All I Want For Christmas Is…A Trademark?SCOTUS Agrees to Engage in Some Whiskey Business
On Monday, November 21st, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal filed by Jack Daniel’s. In this appeal, Jack Daniel’s argued that the Ninth Circuit erred…
Continue Reading SCOTUS Agrees to Engage in Some Whiskey BusinessKathi Vidal Confirmed As The Next USPTO Director
On April 5, 2022, after more than one year of vacancy, the Senate confirmed attorney Kathi Vidal as the next director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Ms.
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Trademark Registrations: The Principal Register vs. Supplemental Register

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) maintains two trademark Registers: the Principal Register and the Supplemental Register. As the chart below shows, these Registers share some important…
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USPTO Cuts Russian IP Ties
On March 22, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it was breaking its final ties with Russia’s intellectual property agencies. Specifically, the USPTO has terminated engagement…
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The Federal Circuit Deals Another Blow to the Lanham Act, Finding Section 2(c) Unconstitutional as Applied to a Refusal to Register TRUMP TOO SMALL
Last week, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) reversed a TTAB decision affirming a refusal to register the phrase TRUMP TOO SMALL because it “comprises…
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The USPTO’s Identity Verification Requirement For Trademark Filers
On January 8, 2022, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) introduced identity verification for USPTO.gov account holders using the Trademark Electronic Application System (“TEAS”) and TEAS International (“TEASi”). …
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USPTO Implements Trademark Modernization Act
On December 18, 2021, regulations implementing the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 went into effect. According to the USPTO’s website, the changes provide individuals, businesses, and the USPTO with…
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