Close

Drafting the Right Description of Goods / Services for Your Trademark Application

Whether you are already using your trademark commercially and will be filing a use-based U.S. trademark application or have not yet begun using your trademark and will be filing an intent-to-use application, a description of the goods and/or services in connection with which the trademark will be used will be required. Deciding what language to include in that description is critical for several reasons. First, subject to the discussion below (and that is a big caveat), the description should be drafted as broad as possible initially because once the application is filed, there will no longer be an opportunity to broaden the description. Broadening amendments are prohibited. Crafting a broad description, and really taking the time to brainstorm all of the possible goods and/or services in connection with which your trademark will be used, will help ensure your obtaining the benefits of federal trademark registration for the largest number of uses of your mark.

Second, when the Trademark Examining Attorney is reviewing your trademark application, they will conduct a search of all pending U.S. trademark applications and all existing U.S. trademark registrations and will reject your application if they deem your mark to be too similar to any such existing marks. How you describe and characterize the goods/services in your application will significantly impact the search results obtained and how the Examiner analyzes those search results relative to your mark. Therefore, if the market in which you will be using your trademark is a crowded market with many participants using marks that are similar to one another in certain respects, drafting your description of goods/services to minimize overlap with the goods/services identified in existing applications/registrations could be the difference between rejection or allowance of your application.

Finally, even if your mark is allowed based on a relatively broader description of goods/services, the owners of similar marks used for similar goods/services may still, after you have received your registration, file an action with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (a division of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) to cancel your trademark registration based on alleged likelihood of consumer confusion. Even if you firmly believe in the merits of your case (for example, you do not believe that the marks are too similar so as to confuse consumers and/or you believe that your use of your mark pre-dated your adversary’s use of their mark), these cancelation proceedings can be very expensive, typically costing tens of thousands of dollars and not infrequently reaching well into six figures. And to anticipate a question that I am often asked by clients – no, you will not be able to recoup those costs even if you prevail in the cancelation proceeding.

The above discussion highlights just some of the ways that how your description of goods/services is presented may have substantial consequences. I highly recommend taking significant time before your trademark application has been filed to fully consider what will be the optimal description of goods/services to include in your application because, as I so often find myself saying to clients, “an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”


Client Reviews
★★★★★
When I first started looking for a lawyer in the US, I had no idea what to expect. I represent an international online retailer from China and we were unfamiliar with the US legal system. An urgent legal message from the plaintiff regarding a trademark infringement case started my search for an experienced trademark lawyer. After calling and speaking to a wide variety of costly lawyers and law firms, I realized that Ted was one of the few personable, professional, and intelligent options that I came across during my search. Not only did he show me that he valued my time, but also my opinion and decisions regarding the case. If you are currently looking for an experienced trademark lawyer for your case, I strongly recommend you give Ted or his office a call and see what they can do for you. 老单
★★★★★
Ted is an outstanding Intellectual Property attorney that truly cares about his clients' needs. During one of the most stressful times of my life, Ted gave me the assurance and confidence that everything would be okay. His knowledge and expertise allowed us to find a swift and positive solution to my matter. As a lawyer myself, I can honestly say that Ted is a world-class attorney and I highly recommend him to anyone that has Intellectual Property needs. Blake Hall
★★★★★
I am a financial executive who has worked in the life sciences industry (pharma/biotech/med device) for over 15 years now. I have known Ted for over 20 years, during the course of which he has provided to me patent and other intellectual property-related advice. Ted has an extraordinary depth of patent law knowledge gained from many years of practicing at top tier corporate law firms. I find him to be incredibly thorough, thoughtful, practical and responsive and look forward to continuing to benefit from his capabilities and guidance in the future. Scott Kain
★★★★★
Working with Chiacchio IP was extremely easy and a great experience. Very knowledgeable and was able to help with my trademark matter in a responsive and timely manner. Highly recommend! Andrew Gilman, Owner, Northline Property Group
★★★★★
Theodore Chiacchio offered us exceptional help with our legal situation. He is extremely knowledgeable and responsive. It was apparent from our first conversation that he was right on track and knew exactly what to do to provide us with security and an outcome that was both fair and reasonable. We felt at ease and confident with Theodore. In what was a very difficult and unwanted situation he made much easier. Rebecca Cappelli, Owner, Songbird Studios Inc.
Contact Us