What can you not trademark?
What Can’t Be Trademarked?
- Proper names or likenesses without consent from the person.
- Generic terms, phrases, or the like.
- Government symbols or insignia.
- Vulgar or disparaging words or phrases.
- The likeness of a U.S. President, former or current.
- Immoral, deceptive, or scandalous words or symbols.
- Sounds or short motifs.
What can and Cannot be registered as a trademark?
Your trade mark cannot: be offensive, for example contain swear words or pornographic images. describe the goods or services it will relate to, for example the word ‘cotton’ cannot be a trade mark for a cotton textile company. be misleading, for example use the word ‘organic’ for goods that are not organic.
What makes a trademark invalid?
Generally, there are four reasons invalidation of a registered extension of protection to the United States may occur: (1) cancellation proceedings instituted by a third party before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; (2) order of a federal court of the United States; (3) failure to file an acceptable §71 affidavit …
How long does trademark last?
How long does a trademark last in the US? In the United States, a federal trademark can potentially last forever, but it has to be renewed every ten years. If the mark is still being used between the 5th and the 6th year after it was registered, then the registration can be renewed.
What happens if a trademark is refused?
If the registration is refused the applicant has the final option of appealing to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (hereinafter referred to as IPAB). … The appeal must be filed in the prescribed manner following the TradeMarks (Applications, Appeals and Fees to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board) Rules.
Is it illegal to put TM on a logo?
The (TM) symbol actually has no legal meaning. You can use the symbol on any mark that your company uses without registering it. … But as mentioned, there is no legal protection when using TM. If you use a mark that infringes on someone else’s trademark, you still put yourself at risk for legal trouble.
Can you trademark curse words?
The short answer is: no, you cannot trademark a “bad” word if it is scandalous, offensive, or immoral. U.S. trademark law absolutely bars trademarking words of immoral or scandalous matter.
Can you trademark any word?
Maybe. Common words and phrases can be trademarked if the person or company seeking the trademark can demonstrate that the phrase has acquired a distinctive secondary meaning apart from its original meaning. That secondary meaning must be one that identifies the phrase with a particular good or service.
How hard is it to get a trademark?
Registering a trademark for a company name is pretty straightforward. Many businesses can file an application online in less than 90 minutes, without a lawyer’s help. The simplest way to register is on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site, www.uspto.gov.
Can I get a domain name if I own the trademark?
If you own a trademark, you own the right to its domain. … In addition, if the domain name was registered but is unused, contact the original owner of the domain to legally transfer ownership.
Can I trademark a name already in use but not trademarked?
If you’re wondering, “can you trademark something that already exists,” the simple answer is “no.” Generally speaking, if somebody has used a trademark before you, you can’t register the trademark for yourself.
What do I do if someone is using my trademark?
A trademark owner who believes its mark is being infringed may file a civil action (i.e., lawsuit) in either state court or federal court for trademark infringement, depending on the circumstances. However, in most cases, trademark owners choose to sue for infringement in federal court.
What can I do if someone is using my business name?
If you discover that another business or person is using your business name, you can file a civil lawsuit against that business or person. In the lawsuit, you must show that you have used the trademark in commerce.
Can I use a similar trademark name?
A business name generally can be protected as a trademark under federal and state trademark law. … As a general rule, if someone in a similar field to yours is already using a particular business or organization name, you should not use it, nor should you use a name that would be confusingly similar.