The United States Patent and Trademark Office is closed today, January 26, 2026, due to the severe weather in and around Washington, D.C. This is the second separate weather-related closure of the Office this year, and the third closure in the…
If you own a registered trademark, you have already taken the most important step toward protecting your brand. However, trademark registration is not a final destination. You have to monitor your trademark to stop infringement, keep it from becoming diluted,…
I created this virtual podcast using Google’s NotebookLM tool. The dialog is remarkably, though not perfectly accurate. It is based on a blog post I wrote about two years ago here. While the podcast is entertaining and informative, the blog…
A few days ago, President Trump issued an executive order closing federal offices on December 24th and 26th this week. Christmas Day was already a federal holiday. Federal workers now have the rest of the week off. This closure affects…
When filing a U.S. trademark application or maintaining an existing registration, applicants and owners must meet specific identification requirements. One requirement that is a subtle trap for novice filers is the domicile address requirement. Examiners are trained to search and…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued updated guidance on inventorship for AI-assisted inventions. Although this formally rescinds and replaces its February 2024 guidance, the substance does not change much. The revised guidance reaffirms long-established legal principles. The…
There are several different types of trademark applications. US trademark applications can be based on foreign trademark applications or registrations, and they can be based entirely on domestic use. An in-use trademark application is probably what most people think of…
Family offices today operate far beyond quiet wealth management. Many build or acquire operating companies, launch investment vehicles, establish philanthropic programs, sponsor funds, or offer advisory services that place them squarely in the public eye. As these activities grow, one…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is largely protected from the government shutdown but is not immune from other plans that have been brewing for a long time. In my circle, there has been a lot of talk about…
At the start of this year, the Trademark Office began requiring that all new applications be filed with Trademark Center. Trademark Center replaced mostly trustworthy TEAS filing system that has been in place for many years. TEAS is still the…