Just like other government entities, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) is designated to conduct regular audits of their system to ensure that both their system and users are in compliance with the set rules. 

Your brand is an important part of your business…whether you call it your brand, your name, trademark or logo, it identifies your company, separating you from your competition. Purchasing decisions are made based on brand names and its reputation. From your local grocery store or car dealership to your own business, a trademark is an asset that has tangible value. 

Are you starting a business? Or maybe you have an existing business? The first step for most aspiring entrepreneurs is registration of their new business name with the local secretary of state’s office. If a new business venture uses a name that is not the same as the owner’s personal name, then a DBA – a ‘Doing Business As’ name – may also be registered. 

From Wicked Good Cupcakes® to Squatty Potty®, the tv series Shark Tank® has taken some of the most innovative ideas from entrepreneurs and turned them into sensational hits in the market. Each of the “sharks” who presents an offer to the inventor is a successful entrepreneur themselves, with a keen ability to evaluate the value and potential of the product, and decide the best way to invest and grow the company for mutual success.

As the registered owner of a trademark, you may have already received an official-looking letter from an organization you don’t recognize but who presents themselves as a government agency. This letter discusses your registered trademarks and suggests that additional steps are needed to protect the mark or complete registration.

Since the practice of modern trademark law began in the U.S. in the early 19th century, the industry has seen a variety of changes and evolutionary advancements. Most significant of these in the last 15 years has been the proliferation of the Internet and its resources. Today, numerous services exist that allow a trademark owner to file their own applications without the help of an attorney. While at first glance this type of service seems to offer the owner greater opportunity at a lower cost, there are a few caveats to consider.

It arrives in an unassuming envelope, usually with the return address of an unknown attorney’s office. It may come by certified mail, look like junk mail, or come across as something you barely notice at all. Opening this letter and reading the contents may send your mind reeling. “What did we do wrong?” or “How are we being accused of this?” might run through your mind. For some, the threat of legal action may even cause mild panic. And while a Cease & Desist letter is not something to be ignored, it’s also not something that should cause business-halting anxiety.

After a multi-year review and adjustment process, fees for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) will be reset and adjusted, effective January 2, 2021. The result is higher fees for organizations filing for federal trademark registration.

For businesses who sell products online, an Amazon store can present a lucrative enterprise. In 2018, Amazon captured 49% of all online sales.