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Archives: Trademarks

New Trademark Scams


I was recently alerted to new scams that are plaguing U.S. trademark applicants. I wrote about trademark scams way back in 2012 (here) and 2016 (here). Unfortunately the problem hasn’t gone away. Here are two recent issues I’ve heard of: 1. Email Scam. After a trademark application is filed, the applicant (meaning, the person or company who owns the trademark, not the filing attorney) is contacted in writing stating that the trademark application was incomplete, and that a conflicting application has been filed by someone else. The scam email looks something like this: I hope this email finds you well….

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How to Avoid A Descriptive or Generic Trademark


The best way to establish a strong trademark is to create a brand name that is neither generic nor “merely descriptive”. In this blog post, I’ll explain what those terms mean and provide some tips on how to avoid running into these issues. The Perks of a Powerful Trademark Before diving into the details of avoiding descriptive or generic trademarks, let’s first explore the benefits of having a strong trademark. A robust trademark can serve as a powerful tool for businesses to stand out in the competitive marketplace and protect their brand identity. Some advantages of a strong trademark are:…

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How to Use and Protect a Trademark for Apparel


When you’re trying to register a trademark for apparel in the U.S., there are some specific requirements. In my experience, many clients who are starting an apparel brand don’t know these requirements, and it can lead to trouble. The key issue is that in order to protect and register a trademark in the U.S., you need to be able to show that the mark has been used in interstate commerce in connection with the goods in the application. For some kinds of products, simply having the trademark (brand name or logo) appear on the product is good enough. But for…

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Trademark Renewals


Congratulations – you’ve successfully obtained a trademark registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Now you might be asking, how long will this trademark registration last? And what do I need to do to keep it alive? The first bit of good news is that trademark registrations can last forever. For example, COCA-COLA has been a registered trademark for “BEVERAGES AND SYRUPS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH BEVERAGES” since January 31, 1928, and they’re still going strong. However, you will need to renew your trademark registration periodically. Here are the deadlines and filings that you need to…

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