Effective Aug. 3, U.S. joins long list of nations that require local counsel In recent years, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has been dealing what it calls “an increasing number of foreign trademark applicants, registrants, and parties … filing inaccurate and possibly fraudulent submissions … that do not comply…

At The Keller Law Firm, we talk a lot about claiming your distinction, which allows your company to stand out in the marketplace. Strong branding is essential, and trademark protection to reinforce your brand is a must. So, if you are trying to develop a distinctive trademark or service mark,…

The essential requirement of a trademark or service mark is that it be distinctive. When a mark lacks uniqueness, there’s a chance the public could be confused about the identity of the company behind the mark. This defeats the primary purpose of a mark: to alert the public about the…

Pop star’s social media rant unlikely to force change, but is technology the answer? On June 30, Taylor Swift took to Tumblr to vent about the betrayal she felt when her former record label sold out to Scooter Braun, a powerful music agent implicated in a series of episodes Ms.…

In my practice, I often encounter business owners who want help with their branding, but don’t grasp the importance of federal trademark registration. They run a small business that does well locally and may expand throughout the state. Since they aren’t planning to go national, can’t they hold off on…

In today’s global economy, businesses have unprecedented opportunities to expand, but must also fend off foreign competition like never before. Therefore, a strategy for success must include strong branding supported by federal trademark registration. For a small investment, you can greatly enhance your prospects for sustained growth and profitability. Here’s…

Imagine having a business asset that lasts for centuries and increases in value over time. If I asked what you were thinking of, you’d probably say, “Real estate.” That’s the only possibility, isn’t it? No matter how you run your business, commercial property always increases in value, because it’s a…

When Cole Porter wrote that “Good authors, too, who once knew better words now only use four-letter words writing prose…Anything goes!” he could have been describing the current state of affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Since 1946, The Lanham Act has given USPTO authority to reject trademark…