Articles by Eric Perrott, Esq.

We were recently made aware of a brand new trademark scam by a client. The client received an unsolicited email from an entity called uspto.gov <noreply@uspto.org>. The email claimed that a “refund request” was issued with the USPTO and the trademark application in question was in danger. Here is what the email said: We have been notified by your Trademark […]

If you are a designer or creator, there is a good chance you’ve owned hundreds, if not thousands, of copyrights during your career. For creative professionals working on a contract basis, those copyrights will typically transfer to the person or company who paid for them. However, it is not always easy for a creator to know the value of their […]

When filing “proof of commercial use” with the USPTO, the USPTO requires applicants to use a word, phrase or symbol as a trademark- not just as a part of ornamental design. If the USPTO examining attorney believes that the proof of use (called a “specimen”) is “ornamental” then they will refuse the application on the grounds that the specimen fails […]

Trademark registration in the United States is considered the “gold standard” for brand owners and is vital in any effective brand protection program, but did you know that you can also register your trademarks with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection? U.S. Customs has the power to seize and destroy counterfeit or non-genuine items before they ever enter the U.S. marketplace. […]

Before a trademark application is registered, it goes through a rigorous examination process by a government attorney. Once the government attorney approves the trademark application, it is “published for opposition.” While it sounds scary, the “publication period” or “opposition period” is a part of every trademark application process. A mark that has been “Approved for Publication” means that the examining attorney […]