Pittsburg, PA

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
One PPG Place, Suite 1500
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 566-1212
(412) 594-5619
Directions to Pittsburgh

Harrisburg, PA

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
300 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 200
Camp Hill, PA 17011
(717) 234-4121
(717) 232-6802
Directions to Harrisburg

New York, NY

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
250 Park Avenue, Suite 1508, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10171
(212) 739-7910
(212) 739-9607
Directions to New York

Foster City, CA

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
Tucker Arensberg, P.C.
1098 Foster City Boulevard, Suite 106 #700
Foster City, California 94404
(650)208-2701
Directions to Foster City

Widget Title

  • People
  • Practice Areas
  • News + Insights
    • News
    • Articles
    • Speaking
  • Office Locations
    • Pittsburgh
    • Harrisburg
    • New York
    • Foster City
  • About the Firm
    • Overview
    • Careers
    • Diversity
    • Women@Tucker
    • Affiliations
    • Pro Bono & Community

Title

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tucker Arensberg, P.C.Tucker Arensberg, P.C.

Attorneys in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, New York City

  • People
  • Practice Areas
  • News + Insights
  • About Our Firm
  • COVID 19: Answers to Business Challenges
ShareBookmarkPDF

USPTO To Suspend New Trademark Applications Containing Scandalous Or Disparaging Material

Articles March 16, 2016

On March 10, 2016, The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) issued new examination guidance for trademark applications containing potentially immoral or scandalous matter, which is expressly prohibited by Section 2(a) of the Lanham Act (the “Act”).

Pending litigation has questioned the constitutionality of this section of the Act which prohibits the registration of any trademark that ” consists of or comprises immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter; or matter which may disparage or falsely suggest a connection with persons, living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols, or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.”  (15 U.S.C. § 2(a)).

In particular, the issue of scandalousness is raised by In re Brunetti and the issue of disparagement is raised by In re Tam and Pro-Football v. Blackhorse.  In light of this pending litigation, examining trademark attorneys at the USPTO will suspend any new trademark application containing potentially scandalous or disparaging material until these matters are resolved.  Applicants are generally not required to respond to suspension notices but should be aware that such suspensions could delay the review process of new trademark applications.

The full text of the USPTO’s guidance on this topic can be found here: http://www.uspto.gov/trademark/guides-and-manuals/trademark-examination-guides

For additional information contact Kristin Biedinger at kbiedinger@tuckerlaw.com

Primary Sidebar

Related

Topics

  • Intellectual Property
© 2022 All Rights Reserved|Tucker Arensberg, P.C.|Log in|Powered by Content Pilot
  • Sitemap
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy