When a new registration comes before them, Trademark Examiners sometimes do not catch every conflicting mark.Assume you have registered your trademark.Now, a company that is a competitor to you has applied to register a new trademark that is the same as or similar to yours.It’s possible that a different business, which may or may not be a competitor, has applied for a new trademark that is the same as or similar to yours. However, the applied-for mark is for different types of goods or services in a different market.
It’s possible that the trademark examiner missed a conflict or failed to notice it at all.A new trademark registration might be allowed in that scenario.However, if you had been keeping an eye on this new application, you would have been very worried because the trademark or the products are similar to yours.Additionally, the examiner is not obligated to notify registered trademark owners of potential conflicts.When the trademark is advertised in the journal, the owner must oppose the registration.
When you check the trademark record for conflicts, you might try to stop applications from other people.If you don’t keep a close eye on the trademark database, a legitimate trademark examiner might let other parties register the trademark, which could really hurt you down the road.
Although the trademarks act makes it possible to cancel or rectify a trademark after it has been registered, doing so is more difficult.Based on your common law or statutory rights as the owner of a trademark that is already registered, opposing it before it is cleared by the examiner and granted registration by the registrar is the superior strategy.
Why Are Trademark Examiners Unable to Catch Everything and Stop It?
There are numerous causes.The Trademarks Register contains numerous trademarks.According to the nice classifications, there are 45 classes of goods and services.A trademark can also be registered in languages other than Hindi or English.In order to determine what constitutes a conflict, trademark examiners must use their own judgment.They may or may not always be correct.
They are required by law to safeguard existing trademark registrations and the rights of the registered proprietor. However, if a potential trademark registrant presents a well-reasoned legal justification, the examiner may be convinced that the trademark should be granted registration and that your rights will not be protected.This can be done during the examination phase, where a trademark registrant can respond to an examiner’s objection.
How to Search the Trademark Database for a Trademark?
The trademark database should be checked on a regular basis.Trademark search databases contain all necessary data, and conducting a search can be extremely beneficial if we know how to use them.These databases have features that make it easier to search for trademarks.
Using a search engine to monitor a trademark:A trademark may not always be registered by an organization.A regular search engine-based trademark watch service should be carried out in these situations to identify potential trademark passing-off cases.Search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Duck Duck Go can be used to find such cases.We can make a list of keywords that are linked to trademarks, type them into search engines, and then manually check to see if someone is using our registered trademark in bad ways.The parties’ PPV or PPC advertisements may also be thrown up by this method.
Sheet Record in Excel:It is possible to create an Excel sheet to keep track of any potential trademark violations.A list of trademark violations, along with details about how and where they were discovered, can be compiled by a business owner or attorney.
Offline Lookup:This might involve looking at industry periodicals and journals on a regular basis, using the yellow pages, going to industry shows, etc.An Excel sheet is created from the watch’s data.
In conclusion, trademark watching or monitoring is a thorough, never-ending, and never-ending procedure that every trademark owner should follow to stop their trademarks from being diluted or used in an illegal way.Although this procedure is time-consuming, tedious, and tiresome, it ultimately pays off in the long run in terms of protecting your brand’s value, goodwill, and reputation.
Read more,
- How to Register a Trademark in the US?
- Why Is Trademark Registration Important?
- How to register Trademark in India?