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How do I monitor other trademark applications?

Senior Trademark Attorney

All trademark applications are publicly available in their respective IP office databases. You can look them up yourself, or you can automate the process by using a trademark monitoring service that tracks new filings and alerts you whenever there’s a potential conflict.

Manual searches need to be conducted frequently enough to catch a conflicting application within the opposition window, which is typically two to three months after publication and only one month in the US. Monthly monitoring is the standard minimum for most jurisdictions.

Some IP offices, including the EUIPO, will notify owners of earlier marks if the examiner identifies a potential conflict during examination. This is a useful additional alert but should not be relied upon as the sole monitoring method.

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Stories of our clients: ShyneDurags

“Our continual drive for excellence made us the best selling durag brand in the UK. Last year, we began trading on Amazon and found the marketplace to have a handful of rogue sellers who attempted to tarnish others’ brand reputation. This issue was quickly dealt with after trademark certifications were provided to Amazon.” Read the full story of Alvin Mills, the founder of ShyneDurags, who continues in his goal to create the #1 online destination for afro hair care.

Answering all your trademark concerns

Many entrepreneurs still consider trademark registration to be the least important step in the process of establishing their brand. This can become a big issue. Not registering a trademark from the start leaves a company vulnerable to potential copycats and other forms of brand infringement that can significantly damage its reputation and hamper growth.

Global Trends in Trademark Registration in 2022

In 2021, the IPO received a record 196,639 trade mark applications, a 43.5% increase from 2020 which was the previous record year for trade mark applications [1]. Both the number of applications and trade marks registered have been consistently rising since 2011. As the numbers continue to grow in 2022 we can observe a number of trends that continue to influence the world of IP rights.