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The Law Office of Joan I. Norek

        Intellectual Property

            Chicago, Illinois

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Oppositions

Opposition Entry
Timing
Dodging
Standing
Grounds

Trademarks

Trademarks Directory
About Trademarks
More on Trademarks
Why Protect a Trademark
Trademarks vs Patents
Trademark Infringement
Trademark Internet Issues
Trademark Weight
Trademark Myths
TM Searches - Basic
TM Searches - Corporate
On-Line Order Searches
TM Pre-filing Assessment
About TM Registrations
Registration Process Outline
TM Registrations - Standard
TM Registrations - Corporate
TM Stand. Registration Order
Entry-Level TM Searches
Entry-Level TM Registration
Naming & Branding
About Domain Names
Names as Trademarks
Slogans
Oppositions
Cancellations
Trademark Consultations

Trademark Oppositions

Part 4 - Grounds
 

Overview: 

• All applications for registration of a mark on the Principal Register that have passed the examination stage are published for opposition.
• The publication opens a thirty-day window period for filing a Notice of Opposition.  A time extension may be obtained if requested during the window period. 
• The Notice of Opposition must plead one or more grounds for opposition.
• The grounds for opposition are (statutory) reasons why a registration should not issue.

Application Examination and Opposition Grounds:  An application published for opposition has already passed an examination by a trademark examiner regarding whether the mark meets the statutory requirements for registration.  The trademark examiner can require further information from the applicant and/or check information sources, including the Internet.  Nonetheless the examination is far from a scour-the-earth investigation.  An opposition provides an opportunity to augment the available information and argue the legal issues.  The issues involved, however, are essentially the same, namely whether or not a mark is eligible for registration under the statutory requirements.  The grounds for opposition therefore are one or more reasons why the mark fails to meet one or more statutory requirements for registration.  As simple as that.

Opposition Grounds - Non-Exhaustive Examples:

• Likelihood of confusion with a registered mark.
• Likelihood of confusion with a not-abandoned mark or trade name used previously by another in the U.S.
• Merely descriptive of goods or services for which it is used.
• Deceptively misdescriptive of goods or services for which it is used.
• Primarily geographically descriptive of goods or services for which it is used.
• Primarily geographically misdescriptive of goods or services for which it is used.
• Primarily merely a surname.
• Geographically deceptive.
• Disparaging of members of a particular group.
• Is scandalous.
• Falsely suggests a connection with opposer.
• Is de jure functional design.
• Is a product design that is not de jure function but has not acquired distinctiveness.
• Lacked bona fide commercial use prior to filing use-based application.
• Lacked bona fide intent to use as of filing date of ITU application.
• Not rightfully owned by applicant at the time application was filed.
• Is a color combination that has not acquired distinctiveness.
• Is comprised of multiple marks sought to be registered from a single application.
• Has been abandoned through nonuse.
• Has been abandoned through conduct that has caused loss of trademark significance.
• Is the name of a particular living individual who has not consented to registration.
• Is generic of goods or services for which it is used.
• Would dilute opposer's famous mark.
• etc.

Practical Grounds/Pleading Practice:  Plead every available ground.  Do not plead make-believe grounds.  Include, or at least be ready to point out, the statutory provision that underlies each and every ground pleaded.  The pleading is best framed in statutory terms  (There is no plagarism in repeating the words used in the statute.)  The trademark statute (Lanham Act) can be viewed and downloaded from the main Trademark page on the USPTO website www.uspto.gov.

other topics - opposition timing, dodging, standing

Oppositions are no place for amateurs.
If you think you need one, or if one has found you,
consult an experienced IP Attorney.
 

questions, inquiries - contact the firm (all contact modes) or call 312.419.8055
 

The Law Office of Joan I. Norek
25 E. Washington Street, Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois  60602
Tel.  312.419.8055   Fax 312.236.6686
Contact the Firm
 

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