smar(tm)ark® trademark newsletter from Erik Pelton

August 2020

Last month, I wrote about the USPTO's proposed fee increases. My full comments about the increases and the effects on small business can be found here.

If you've been putting off applying to register and protect your brand name or logo, now is the time -- trademark registration has never been more valuable, and the USPTO fees will be increasing soon. If you would like to schedule a time to discuss with me, contact me here.

Do I Need to Use the ® Registration Symbol

with My Trademark?

If Apple does not use the ® with their trademark why should you? Watch as Erik presents the pros and cons of using your registration symbol with your trademarks, when eligible.

The 3 Most Common Trademark Application Mistakes

One of the key mistakes people make when filing for a trademark with the USPTO is the failure to search the record before filing. In this short podcast, Erik discusses this mistake and two others and what to do about them.

Click to play

Trademark News Roundup

Apple came after a lot of heat this week after it objected to a trademark application for a pear shaped logo. While many were surprised by this maneuver, it is not uncommon for large companies to have expansive views of their trademark rights, and to aggressively assert rights against smaller businesses.

Read more about the dispute here: Apple takes umbrage with small company's pear logo, legally opposes trademark

To follow all types of branding updates and information you can join more than 5,000 others following me on twitter @tm4smallbiz, or on Instragram at @making_trademarks_bloom.

If there are any topics or issues you would like to see covered here, let us know!

-------------------------------------------------------

This publication has been prepared for the general information of clients and friends of the firm. It is not intended to provide legal advice with respect to any specific matter. Under rules applicable to the professional conduct of attorneys in various jurisdictions, it may be considered advertising material.