Trademark Maintenance: does trademark registration expire?

Maintaining registration calls for both administrative and executive action. Administratively, you need to file with the USPTO a showing that you’re still using the mark after 5 years of the registration, and every 10 years, you need to file a request for renewal. On the business side, you must continue using your mark at all times, even after the registration. This requirement… Continue reading Trademark Maintenance: does trademark registration expire?

Trademark Registration: do I need to hire an attorney?

Getting a trademark, you can either “do it yourself” or hire a professionals. DIY option describes not only filing directly via TEAS at USPTO.gov but also using commercial services under $100. Let’s compare these two options. Do it yourself Professional Help Mark Your choice of wording and design Likely a better wording and design Registration online trademark search/registration via… Continue reading Trademark Registration: do I need to hire an attorney?

Standard Character mark v. Special Form mark

There are mainly two types of trademark, a standard one and a stylized one. A standard one (called a standard character mark) establishes your trademark rights to the written words of the mark whereas a stylized one (called a stylized/design mark) to the expression of the words in a certain way. For example, “Coca-Cola” is a brand name of a certain soda… Continue reading Standard Character mark v. Special Form mark

Trademark Office Action: how to respond

미국 상표 USPTO Principal Register 빠른 시일내에 강력한 상표를 취득 상표 출원, 중간 사건(OA) 대행 상표 침해에 대한 분쟁 및 소송

Office Action calls for a legal writing. When there is problem with your trademark application, the Office will issue an OA.  There could be multiple instances of OA per application while many trademarks get registered without any. Sometimes, a simple change to your application can fix the problem, so the only thing you need to is agreeing… Continue reading Trademark Office Action: how to respond

You’ve got to “use” your trademark

Let’s take a look at an interesting story: By the time Apple Inc. debuted iPhone in January 2007, the prefix “i” had already become a thing of Apple. The inauguration of iMac series dates back in 1998. In 2003, iPod was a mega hit. Lesser known than Apple, however, there was a startup called InfoGear Technology Corporation, which developed an internet phone technology, called “iPhone.”

What is Trade Dress?

When it comes to trademark (or servicemark), brand names, symbols, and logo designs are the first things to come to your mind. However, there are other types of trademarks that are protected. For example, a sound or packaging is also protected by the trademark law.