Trademark Blog

What is a Notice of Reliance in a Trademark Opposition or Trademark Cancellation?

notice of reliance

In a trademark opposition or trademark cancellation, both parties can make certain types of materials part of the evidentiary record by filing them under a notice of reliance. Each party must file their notices of reliance and associated materials with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and serve them on the opposing party during its 30-day trial period. Neither party is required to file a notice of reliance during its trial period, but because it is a fairly easy and inexpensive way to submit certain evidence in support of their cases, the parties frequently utilize this procedure rather than more cumbersome methods (such as through witness verification during a testimony deposition).

What is the Trial Period in a Trademark Opposition or Trademark Cancellation?

trial period

The trial period is probably the most important and consequential part of a trademark opposition or trademark cancellation (especially for the plaintiff). It is the period of time during which the parties take the testimony of their witnesses (either orally or in the form of a written affidavit or declaration) and provide to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) all of their documentary evidence for the TTAB’s review and consideration. Each party’s trial period begins about two weeks after the deadline for serving its Pretrial Disclosures.

What are Pretrial Disclosures in a Trademark Opposition or Trademark Cancellation?

pretrial disclosures

Preparing and serving Pretrial Disclosures on the opposing party is required in every trademark opposition or trademark cancellation proceeding that either (1) has not been settled by the parties after the discovery period has closed, or (2) has not been decided by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) prior to the deadline for serving Pretrial Disclosures. The deadline set by the TTAB for serving them is about two weeks before the opening of a party’s 30-day trial period.

What is a Notice of Appeal Filed with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)?

Notice of Appeal

Filing the Notice of Appeal with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is the very first step in the trademark appeal process. You may only file the Notice of Appeal after an examining attorney at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues a final office action indicating that the refusal to register your trademark has been made final. The purpose of filing the Notice of Appeal is to preserve your right to attempt to convince the TTAB (through the submission of competent evidence and persuasive arguments) that the examining attorney’s final refusal to register your mark is improper and should be overturned. In other words, it informs the TTAB of your intent to challenge the examining attorney’s reasons for rejecting your trademark application.

What is a Provisional Refusal of Protection from the USPTO?

provisional refusal

A provisional refusal of protection is issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) when a trademark for which an extension of protection is sought doesn’t meet the eligibility requirements for registration on the Principal Register. A provisional refusal is also sometimes referred to as a “nonfinal office action” and is essentially identical to a trademark office action that would be issued by the USPTO in response to a trademark application not filed in accordance with the Madrid Protocol. In other words, “provisional refusal” is just a fancy name given to an office action when a mark is the subject of an extension of protection under Section 66(a) rather than the subject of a trademark application filed directly with the USPTO under Section 1(a), Section 1(b), Section 44(d), or Section 44(e).