The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued a bulletin on the New Madrid Protocol webpages for international trademark applicants (govdelivery.com). Specifically, the USPTO explains that its
Continue Reading New USPTO Madrid Protocol WebpagesTrademark Registration
Taco Tuesday for All?
After years of owning the trademark registration “Taco Tuesday,” Taco Johns has agreed to drop it after Taco Bell petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to have the registration…
Continue Reading Taco Tuesday for All?When Football & TMs Don’t Mix

Anyone who’s followed this blog knows that I’ve done a few (really more than a few) posts about the evolution of the Washington football team’s trademark battles. As a reminder…
Continue Reading When Football & TMs Don’t MixRise in Fraud on TM Owners
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…
Continue Reading Rise in Fraud on TM OwnersFair 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.
Continue Reading Kathi Vidal Confirmed As The Next USPTO Director
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…
Continue Reading Trademark Registrations: The Principal Register vs. Supplemental Register
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…
Continue Reading USPTO Cuts Russian IP Ties