U.S. Trademark Docketing Basics & Beyond U.S. Trademark - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

U.S. Trademark Docketing Basics & Beyond

U.S. Trademark Docketing Basics & Beyond

• Presenters:
• Ann McCrackin, President, Black Hills IP, LLC
• Shelley Cape, Quality Control Manager, Black Hills IP, LLC
• Patti Giuliano, Trademark Paralegal, SLW

Wh What t is a tr trademark? k?

• A word, name, phrase or symbol used to identify the source
• r origin of a good or service provided through commerce

Ø Trademark vs. Service Mark Ø Patents protect the product or method itself

Wh What t is a tr trademark? k?

• Duration

Ø Continues forever unless abandoned

• Trademark rights are established upon use

ØCommon Law rights

• Federal Registration

Wh What t makes a good tr trademark? k?

• Strength of the mark
• Similarity to other

marks

• Produces the desired

mental connection

• Ability to protect

Obtaining Federal Registration and Related Dock cketing

• Application is filed with USPTO

Ø Class based registration system

• Multi-class applications allowed
• Intent to Use (ITU) application vs Use Based application
• Docket Actions
• 3-6 month status check
• Foreign filing priority date, if applicable

Obtaining Federal Registration and Related Dock cketing

• Application is assigned to Examiner and examined
• Office Action is issued
• Priority Action versus standard Office Action
• Docket Actions
• Two Month Priority Deadline
• Six Month Final Deadline
• Docket 3-2-1 Reminders

Obtaining Federal Registration and Related Dock cketing

• Response is filed
• Due any time within 6 months
• No fees associated with filing
• Docket Actions
• Confirm docketing of the status check
• Final Office Action may be issued
• Docket Actions
• Early Response Deadline
• Request for Reconsideration Date
• Notice of Appeal Date

Obtaining Federal Registration and Related Dock cketing

• Responding to Office Action may include
• Divisional

Ø Separates classes Ø Not the same thing as a patent divisional

• Request for Reconsideration

Ø In response to Final Office Action

• Notice of Appeal

Ø In response to Final Office Action

• Docket Actions
• In the situation of a divisional, all the dates carry to the child application, so be sure

all deadlines and proper status checks are on your docket.

Obtaining Federal Registration and Related Dock cketing

• Notice of Publication
• Docket Actions
• 30 day opposition period
• Notice of Allowance
• If application is ITU, then Applicant files

Ø Statement of Use Ø Extension Request for filing Statement of Use

• Docket Actions
• Statement of Use is due 36 months from the Notice of Allowance
• Extensions available in six month increments
• Be sure you keep the extension deadline open if you file a Statement of Use before

the deadline.

Ma Maintaining a Federal Registr trati tion

• Combined Declaration of Use and Incontestability (Sections 8 & 15)
• Filed between 5 and 6 years of registration
• Docket Actions
• Section 8 (or 71) must be filed by the 6th year of registration
• Section 15 may be filed any time after the 5th year of registration
• Six month grace period available for a fee
• Combined Declaration of Use and Application for Renewal (Sections 8 &

9)

• Filed every 10 years
• Docket Actions
• Section 8 (or 71) and Section 9 must be filed by the 10 year anniversary of the registration
• Six month grace period available for a fee

Questions

• Questions on Today’s Program
• Please submitted your questions using the Q&A button on the control bar on

your screen.

• If you have questions regarding Black Hills IP’s services or

processes, please contact:

Jim Brophy

• Ph. 612-867-4018

jbrophy@blackhillsip.com