What is an Audit of a Trademark Registration?

audit trademark registration

An audit of a trademark registration may occur after the owner of the registration files a trademark registration maintenance or renewal document with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The USPTO may perform an audit to determine whether the mark is actually in use in connection with all of the products and/or services identified in the maintenance or renewal document. The purpose of the USPTO’s audit program is to assess and promote the accuracy and integrity of both the Principal Register and Supplemental Register. In other words, the USPTO wants to ensure that trademark owners are not fraudulently maintaining and renewing their registrations for products and services they are not currently providing in the USA.

What is Excusable Nonuse of a Trademark?

excusable nonuse

Excusable nonuse of a trademark occurs when circumstances beyond the control of a trademark owner causes a temporary interruption in the use of the mark. The concept of excusable nonuse most frequently arises when it comes time for the owner of a U.S. trademark registration to file the Section 8 Declaration of Use or the Section 71 Declaration of Use with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Normally, both of these declarations require verification that the registered trademark is in use in commerce in order to prevent the registration from being canceled.

Can You Amend a Trademark Registration?

amend a trademark registration

You can sometimes amend a trademark registration issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), just like you can sometimes amend a trademark application before it becomes a registration. All requests for amendment of a registration must be “for good cause,” which essentially means you need to have a legitimate reason for the amendment. In addition, a request to amend a trademark registration must be accompanied by the required government filing fee and be supported with the declaration language found in 37 C.F.R. § 2.20.

What is the Section 8 and 9 Renewal for a Trademark?

section 8 and 9 renewal

The Section 8 and 9 Renewal is a combined document filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the purpose of maintaining and renewing a trademark registration. The Section 8 and 9 Renewal is only applicable to trademarks that are registered under Section 1(a) (use in commerce) or Section 44(e) (U.S. registration based on a foreign trademark registration). If your trademark is registered with the USPTO under Section 66(a) (registered extension of protection through the Madrid Protocol), then you would instead (1) file a Section 71 Declaration of Use with the USPTO, and (2) renew your international registration directly with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

What is a Post-Registration Office Action from the USPTO?

post-registration office action

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will issue a post-registration office action if you file a trademark registration renewal or maintenance document that doesn’t satisfy all of the legal requirements. Here’s a list of documents that could trigger an office action if filed incorrectly: