The USPTO sent a warning late last week that there are attempts to hijack trademark applications and registrations.  The overall purpose is to allow the effected trademarks to be registered to third-parties on brand registries. This latest scam is different from the misleading solicitations addressed here.

The good news with this scheme is that the applicant or their attorney is notified if such an attempt is made automatically and in most cases, immediately.  If you receive a notification you will want to review it closely to make sure that the change being made is legitimate.

If you think that the action on your trademark application or registration is incorrect, you will need to notify the Trademark Office.  When you do, make sure to include:

• Your name and direct phone number
• The related serial number or registration number of the trademark at issue
• The date and time that the notification was received
• A brief explanation of what your relationship is with the applicant or registrant—e.g., attorney of record
• Any other relevant information

If you are a glass half full type of person, this can be viewed as a reminder that protecting your intellectual property requires careful oversight.  For more information about this scam, visit the USPTO’s dedicated page here.

As Drake Law School graduates, the attorneys at Zarley Law are pleased to congratulate the Intellectual Property Law program at Drake for being rated as one of the top 25 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

“For the past seven years, the Drake Intellectual Property Law Center has been recognized annually among the top 25 IP programs in the country,” said Peter K. Yu, who founded the Center in the fall of 2007 and holds the Kern Family Chair in Intellectual Property Law at Drake University. “We at Drake Law are very proud of this achievement and of the continuous recognition we have received from our peers for the high quality of our IP programming.”

For the past seven years, the Drake Intellectual Property Law Center has been recognized annually among the top 25 IP programs in the country.

–Peter K. Yu, Director

Drake’s IP Law Center offers an innovative curriculum that combines legal theory, policy analysis, practical experience, and professional skills development.  In addition to regular coursework, the Center features an active co-curriculum and a long-standing student organization, which was established more than two decades ago.

Each year, the Center offers many distinguished lectures and ground-breaking symposia.  Past speakers include Randall Rader, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; Ralph Oman, former Registrar of Copyrights of the United States; and Gao Lulin, founding director of the State Intellectual Property Office in China.

In the spring, its annual Intellectual Property Scholars Roundtable brings to campus about 40-50 IP and technology law scholars from around the world to present their latest research.  The Center organizes annual summer institutes that bring together judges, policymakers, industry leaders, attorneys and academics to explore cutting-edge issues at the intersection of IP, biotechnology and agricultural sciences.

To learn more about the Drake Intellectual Property Law Center program click here.