From an economic standpoint, a trademark is a source identifier that allows consumers to identify goods or services that have been successful (or have a good reputation) and reject goods or services that have failed (or have a bad reputation). Trademarks promote economic efficiency in the marketplace in at least two ways: (1) trademarks encourage [...]
In our free market economy, public domain (i.e., an invention, creative work, commercial symbol, or any other creation that is not protected by through trademarks, copyrights, or patents) is the general rule and intellectual property is the exception. Therefore it follows that imitating or copying a successful market concept or trend that is not [...]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) is setting or adjusting certain trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018 (SUCCESS Act). The changes will allow the USPTO to continue to recover the [...]
Our Chicago trademark lawyers cannot stress enough the importance of new business owners and entrepreneurs in holding a federal trademark registration for their service or product. Not only is a registered trademark on the federal principal register an extremely valuable asset, the protections afforded by a registered trademark are of paramount importance to maintaining brand [...]
This is Part 1 of a 6 Part blog brought to you by our Chicago Trademark Lawyers. Part 1: Trademark Priority and Trademark Distinctiveness US trademark law and the trademark registration process is very much different compared to trademark law in foreign countries. Whether a entrepreneur, inventor or US business is seeking to prosecute a [...]
