Federal trademark registration gives nationwide protection while common law trademarks (unregistered trademarks) gives limited protection only to a geographical area given that the business is the first to use the mark within the geographical area, however the scope of the geographical area is limited while difficult to enforce.  Federally registered trademarks give the public constructive notice to prevent others from using a similar mark, providing a right to file an infringement suit in federal court, the right to use R in the circle symbol with the mark, to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods, and forms a basis to file in foreign countries.

A trademark is a source identifier on goods while a service mark is a source identifier on a service rather than on goods.

What Types Of Marks Are Generally Not Registrable?

A trademark search allows a preliminary determination on whether there may be a likelihood of confusion that would bar registration of the mark.

The USPTO will refuse registration of a mark if there is a likelihood of confusion between applicant’s mark and an already registered or prior-pending mark of another party.  A likelihood of confusion exists when marks are similar and/or the goods/services are same, similar, related, or while unrelated such that a consumer would mistakenly believe that the goods/services come from the common source.  When a likelihood of confusion does not exist, identical marks can coexist in the trademark database.

Trademark registration can last for unlimited consecutive 10 year periods provided that timely post registration maintenance and renewals are met.  The Declaration of Use (continued use in commerce/excusable nonuse) must be filed between the 5th and 6th year following registration and the combined Declaration of Use/Excusable Nonuse and Application for Renewal must be filed between the 9th and 10th year after registration and every 10 years thereafter.  Failure to file these documents results in cancellation/loss of the registered trademark. (e.g. Trademark date of registration: January 1, 2020, due date for 1st maintenance document: January 1, 2026, due date for 2nd maintenance document: January 1, 2030, due date for 3rd maintenance document: January 1, 2040, …).   If a deadline is missed, a 6 months grace period is available with a late fee.

For Intent to Use basis Trademark Applications, where a mark is not in use at the time of filing, however there is a bona fide intent to use in commerce, an Allegation of Use, a sworn declaration including the date of first use anywhere in U.S., date of first use in commerce, and specimen showing actual use, must be submitted to the USPTO prior to the grant of registration.  The Allegation of Use may be either a Statement of Use or Amendment to Allege Use, depending on the time of filing. The Statement of Use is filed within 6 months or with 6 month approved requests for extensions, after the Notice of Allowance is issued by the USPTO.  The Amendment to Allege Use may be filed any time prior to publication.  Law Offices of Chung & Kim provides this service at your request.  Please see our list of services for additional information.

A patent granted by the Patent Office to any person who invented any new, original, ornamental design for an article of manufacture.  The appearance of the article is only protected not the structural or utilitarian features.

Generally a Utility Patent protects the function of an article while a Design Patent protects the ornamental characteristics.  Both Utility and Design Patents may be obtained on an article if there is utility and ornamental characteristics.

Unlike Trademark filings where any U.S. Attorney proficient in Trademarks is qualified to file with the USPTO an application on behalf of a client, Patent filings at the USPTO can only be filed by a registered Patent Practitioner (Patent Attorney or Patent Agent) on behalf of a client.

15 years from the date of grant.