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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trademark registration
The TTAB: Service Mark Use Requires More Than Just Preparation
By Melissa E. Scott on
On December 10, 2021, the TTAB issued a precedential decision reminding trademark practitioners and applicants that service mark use requires that an applicant actually render the services recited in the…
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The USPTO Issues Regulations Implementing the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020
By Melissa E. Scott on
Today, the USPTO issued regulations implementing the provisions of the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (“TMA”). The Regulations can be found here.
Practitioners should review the Regulations as soon…
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The TTAB: “Knowing Intent to Deceive” is the Lynchpin of A Fraud Claim
By Melissa E. Scott on
All TTAB practitioners are familiar with the heightened standard of proof required to prove fraud before the USPTO. However, many forget that proving an intent to deceive the USPTO, not…
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Be Precise When Expressly Abandoning a Trademark Application or Face the Consequences
By Melissa E. Scott on
In a recent precedential decision, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) cautioned practitioners to be careful what they ask for and to draft their filings accordingly.
On September 8,…
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Precedential TTAB Decision Revisits Claim and Issue Preclusion
By Melissa E. Scott on
In a recent precedential decision, the TTAB again revisited the doctrines of claim and issue preclusion.
Valvoline Licensing & Intellectual Property LLC (“Valvoline”) opposed Sunpoint International Group USA Corp.’s (“Sunpoint”)…
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USPTO Trademark Webinars for Small Businesses
By Elizabeth A. Patton on
Throughout this summer, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is offering its series of virtual webinars dubbed “Trademark Basics Boot Camp.” The series appears to be tailored to…
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TTAB Cancels Registration for Gun Barrel Trade Dress on Grounds of Functionality
By Melissa E. Scott on
On May 20, 2021, the TTAB issued a lengthy and comprehensive precedential opinion canceling Proof Research, Inc.’s registration for the trade dress of a gun barrel (as shown below) on…
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The Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 is Enacted
By Melissa E. Scott on
On December 27, 2020, Congress signed the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 (the “Act”), which had rare bipartisan support, into law.
The Act makes substantive changes to the…
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The TTAB Continues Its Recent Trend of Failure-to-Function Refusals
By Melissa E. Scott on
On December 1, 2020, the TTAB continued its recent trend of decisions refusing to register marks on the ground of failure-to-function. In another precedential decision, the TTAB refused Applicant Lee…
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