Trademark Changes

According to a Thursday, February 20, 2014 proposed rule, the United States Patent and Trademark Office proposes to amend requirements for collective trademarks and service marks, collective membership marks, and certification marks.

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'')proposes to amend the rules related to collective trademarks,collective service marks, and collective membership marks (together ``collective marks''), and certification marks to clarify application requirements, allegations of use requirements, multiple-class application requirements, and registration maintenance requirements for such marks. These proposed rule changes will codify current USPTO practice set forth in the USPTO's ``Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure'' (``TMEP'') and precedential case law. These changes also will permit the USPTO to provide the public more detailed guidance regarding registering and maintaining registrations for these types of marks and will promote the efficient and consistent processing of such marks. Further, the USPTO proposes to amend several rules beyond those related to collective marks and certification marks to create consistency with rule changes regarding such marks and to streamline the rules, by consolidating text and incorporating headings, for easier use.

For more information access http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-02-20/html/2014-03256.htm