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U.S. Trademark Scams are on the Rise . . . . SO BEWARE!

The Increasing Threat of Trademark Scams Trademark scams are on the rise, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) warns. If you get a concerning email about your trademark, there is a good chance it's a trademark scam — but sometimes unsolicited emails are legit (or sort of), in the sense that they are

Mexico Trademarks

Registering Trademarks in Mexico: What You Need to Know

The Global/Mexico Trademark Landscape In a world where trademark identity is often a company's most valuable asset, protecting that identity in foreign markets is crucial. Mexico, with its growing economy and strategic geographic location, has become a hotspot for many international companies. However, without a solid understanding of its trademark regulations, companies run the risk

trademark resolutions settlement

Trademark Infringement Litigation: Resolution Options

Introduction Since last month’s post covering international aspects of trademark infringement litigation, we’ve gotten some questions about what resolution options are available short of full-blown litigation. Obviously, trademark infringement is a significant concern for businesses and individuals seeking to protect their brands. But, sometimes, settlement or other mutual agreements to resolve these problems can make

China Trademark Opposition actions

International Aspects of Trademark Infringement Litigation

Introduction In today's global marketplace, businesses face numerous challenges when it comes to protecting their trademarks on an international scale. Trademark infringement litigation is an option when a person or business is infringing your trademark rights in another country. These cases involving international dimensions can be complex, encompassing jurisdictional issues, cross-border enforcement, and a secondary

What Are Smart Contracts on Blockchain? 

Are Smart Contracts Legal Contracts?

If you have been following the news around Web3 lately, you may have heard of smart contracts. They are used in a wide variety of decentralized digital transactions, including NFT sales, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and decentralized applications (dApps). Because smart contracts can relieve some of the hassle involved with traditional contracts, many businesses are

trademarking foreign words with USPTO

Trademarking Foreign Words: Be Careful

For some brands, trademarking foreign words or phrases might hit just the right note in terms of image. The word "bakery" might make consumers in Seattle think of their local Safeway, while boulangerie evokes flaky, buttery croissants in Paris. Yet the use of foreign words raises certain issues when it comes to registering trademarks in

Trademark Protection In The Global Marketplace

Trademark Protection In The Global Marketplace

Trademarks are among the most important assets of any company. Indeed, if it weren’t for trademarks, customers would be unlikely to even find a company’s products. Naturally, then, most U.S. companies want to protect these essential and valuable assets to the greatest extent possible and therefore make sure that they are registered with the United

expungement reexamination proceedings

USPTO Expungement and Reexamination Proceedings

Pursuant to the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has established expungement and reexamination proceedings for cancellation of a registration. These proceedings allow a third party to request the cancellation of a trademark registration, if the mark was never used in commerce, or if it was not used prior

Global Trademark Protection Under the Madrid Protocol

Global Trademark Protection Under the Madrid Protocol

As more U.S. companies and individuals seek to sell their goods and services in foreign markets, it is important they obtain trademark protection in these markets. One way to minimize the cost of obtaining trademark protection abroad is to make use of the Madrid System. With the UAE's accession to the Madrid Protocol (which together

Spain Trade Secret Law

Spain Trade Secret Law

Trade secrets became explicitly protected under Spanish national law when EU Directive (2016/943/EU) became part of Spain law in 2019. A trade secret in Spain is now defined as secret information, unknown to those who usually handle such kinds of information and not readily accessible. This information also must have commercial value precisely because it

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