By Danny Lochridge Another question we frequently hear from business owners is: “I registered my LLC — doesn’t that mean my brand name is protected?” It is a very common assumption. Forming an LLC involves a formal state filing, a government fee, and approval from the state’s business registry. After receiving confirmation that the name has been accepted, it often feels like the name has been secured. But LLC registration and trademark protection come from entirely different

By Michael Tier The Oakland Athletics' relocation to Las Vegas has generated plenty of headlines—from stadium negotiations to Mason Miller's contract extension. But in the trademark world, the franchise is making news for a different reason entirely. The USPTO recently refused the Athletics' applications for LAS VEGAS ATHLETICS and VEGAS ATHLETICS. The grounds are familiar to anyone who works in trademark prosecution: geographic descriptiveness under §2(e)(2), lack of acquire

By Danny Lochridge If you've ever filed a trademark application, you've probably wondered what actually happens after you click submit. The process can feel slow and opaque from the outside, but inside the USPTO, trademark examination follows a structured and predictable sequence. Understanding that sequence is one of the most practical things a business owner can do before filing. Here's how examining attorneys actually evaluate your application — and where most problems ari

By Danny Lochridge For many businesses, securing a federal trademark is a key step in protecting a brand they plan to invest in for years. Matthew McConaughey's recent trademark strategy takes this principle into new territory—using trademark law to combat potential AI misuse before it happens. Over the past several months, the actor secured eight trademarks from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering specific audio and video clips of his voice and likeness. Understand

By Danny Lochridge The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office just released its fiscal year 2025 performance report, and processing times have dropped significantly, backlogs are shrinking, and examination quality remains consistently high. Here's what changed and why it matters for your trademark strategy. The improvements are substantial: First Action Pendency: 5.6 months This is the time from filing your application until you receive the first substantive review from an examini

For many businesses, securing a federal trademark is a key step in protecting a brand they plan to invest in for years. Understanding how the USPTO process works helps set expectations, budget intelligently, and avoid preventable delays. How long does a USPTO trademark usually take? In most cases, a federal trademark application takes about 12 to 18 months from filing to registration. Some applications move faster, and others take longer depending on office actions, oppositio

What is a trademark by Ishani Samajpati, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 https://blog.ipleaders.in/what-is-a-trademark/ Sometimes what people are really asking is: “Do I need a USPTO trademark registration?” “Can I enforce rights in my brand name or logo without registering?” The short answer is yes — you may already have trademark rights under common law if you’re using the mark in connection with goods or services. The longer answer is that if you want stronger, nationwide prot

Gasparilla Pirate Boat Float (Tampa) by dbroadwell, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gasparilla_Pirate_Boat_Float_%28Tampa%29.jpg Consent agreements are often an effective way for trademark applicants to address a likelihood-of-confusion refusal, because they reflect the parties’ own assessment of marketplace reality. As a bit of a refresher, a “consent agreement” in trademark law is where two parties agree that based on various distinguishi

You file your USPTO trademark application and wait for it to move through the USPTO review process. After filing, applications typically sit in a queue for, at the time of this article, 5-6 months before an examining attorney reviews it. After that first examination, you may receive a notice called an “Office Action.” That can feel unsettling at first, but it is a normal part of the process. A large percentage of applications receive at least one Office Action, and the USPTO’

Have you seen THUNDERBOLTS®, the movie? In the extra credit scene, one character claims “Do you know he’s filed for ‘copyright’ of the name?” Another character replies, “AVENGERZ with a ‘Z’ there is no copyright.”  Note: We are using this as an example and have no firsthand knowledge of exactly what the characters were thinking in this scene! :) There are two issues here:  The characters are likely intending to say “trademark” instead of “copyright.”  The characters in Thunde

NO DAYS OFF (BILL'S VERSION), Application Serial No, 99120069 (U.S. Pat. & Trademark Off. Apr. 3, 2025) https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumbe...

Chinnian, in flickr (April 6, 2012), https://www.flickr.com/photos/chinnian/7049957303 Chrome Hearts v. Neil Young’s New Band “Chrome...

By: Jose Landivar, Counsel, Sisun Law PLLC Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is one of the most recognizable public figures in the world....

By Gabriella Fernandez The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) recent decision reaffirms that FIREBALL® is not a generic...

By: Gabriella Fernandez The Cleveland Cavaliers are riding a wave of momentum into the NBA Playoffs—and now they’re looking to trademark...

By: Gabriella Fernandez Thinking about giving your brand’s logo a refresh? Be careful—small tweaks can have trademark consequences. New...

By: Gabriella Fernandez Timothy Ratliff proudly wears his Duke-branded merchandise throughout this season of White Lotus - sometimes in...

By: Gabriella Fernandez The Resurgence of Nuclear Power in the Age of AI The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has triggered an...

By: Gabriella Fernandez Stephen Curry, widely recognized for his transformative impact on professional basketball, continues to expand...

By: Gabriella Fernandez When it comes to securing trademark rights, even global superstars like Beyoncé face challenges. Her...