Trademarks

What, When, and Where

About Your Speaker

Andrew L. Eisenberg

- IP Attorney - Lee & Hayes, PLLC- General Counsel – Audiotoniq, Inc. - Associate – L.C. Begin and Associates - Dell, Inc.

- University of Michigan – B.S.E - University of Notre Dame – J.D.

Why IP is Important

S&P 500 S&P 500

1970

Intangible

Today

Intangible

Tangible

Tangible

– Identifier in Commerce

– Characters, Symbols, Words, Phrases, Slogans, Images, Design Elements, Sounds, Scents, Shapes

 

What is a Trademark 

-Trademark Search - (USPTO.gov)- Google

- Domain Name

- Form the Entity - (Corporation, LLC, Partnership, …)

- Graphic Designs

 

Before Filing 

– Trademark

– Service Mark

– Registered Mark  

Types  

TM

SM

®

- Word Mark

- Stylized Design

- Trade Dress 

Categories  

 

Scope 

- Geographic

- Types of Goods or Services

- Intent to Use or Use

- Description of the Mark

- Classification (45 IC)- 1-34 Goods

- 35-45 Services

- Specimen(s)

- Description of Goods

 

Your Application 

 

Use – Timing  

- Day 1 - File Use Application

- 4-8 Months - Rejection or Allowance- 3-6 Months Per Rejection

- 1 Month- Publication in Official Gazette

- 30 Day - Opposition Period

- 1 Month - Issuance

 

Intent to Use – Timing  

- Day 1 - File Intent to Use Application

- 6 Months - File Statement of Use

- (e.g., Specimens) - File Extension

- 5 Available- 6 Months Each

- Continued Use- Between 5th and 6th

-Section 9 Renewal (Every 10 years)- Continued Use- Fee

- Duty to Enforce  

- Generic Mark

Maintaining the Mark 

- Scope

- Confusingly Similar

- Cease and Desist Letters 

Enforcement  

- Company Name and Logo

- Product Names

- Branding

- Packaging / Product  

What to Trademark 

Traditional Example

V.

Other Examples and Uses

Questions?