A September 2026 industry report from Trademark Engine put a number on something trademark lawyers had been sensing for months: AI-assisted trademark filings are up roughly 400%, as generative naming engines let anyone produce dozens of candidate brand names in an afternoon. For a founder staring at a blank naming brief, that feels like a gift. For the trademark system, it is a collision waiting to happen. Here is the problem. These models are trained on overlapping datasets

The person examining your trademark application now has machine help. The USPTO has embedded agentic AI assistants and AI-powered image search into trademark examination — tools that let examiners move faster through the docket, compare your mark against the register more thoroughly, and surface conflicts a human working alone might have missed. Processing is getting quicker. Scrutiny is getting deeper. Both facts change how you should file. This is not a story about robots r

Trademark law was built for names on boxes and logos on signs. It is now being drafted into a very different fight: the battle over synthetic imitations of real people. The through line across a remarkable run of 2026 developments is unmistakable — trademark law is becoming an anti-deepfake tool, and anyone whose identity has commercial value should be paying attention. Consider the sequence. Taylor Swift filed sound-mark applications for her voice — an attempt to claim feder

Filing a trademark application puts your name, address, and mark into a public database. Within days — sometimes within minutes — the scammers come calling. They scrape USPTO records and blast out official-looking invoices demanding payment for bogus "registrations," listings in private directories nobody reads, wildly inflated monitoring services, and renewals that are not due for years. The newest schemes are bolder still: spoofed phone calls placed within minutes of filing

The federal trademark register just got a lot more honest. Under the expungement and reexamination proceedings created by the Trademark Modernization Act, the USPTO has now cancelled more than 100,000 unused goods and services from the register — stripping away deadwood that was cluttering searches, blocking legitimate applications, and in many cases never represented real commercial activity at all. The cleanup specifically targets fake specimens, so-called "specimen farms,"

Most business owners think of a trademark dispute as a fight over names and logos. But there is a quieter way to lose one: refuse to participate. In Fifth Generation Inc. v. Titomirov Vodka LLC (TTAB 2026) [precedential], the Board entered judgment as a sanction against a party that treated discovery like an optional courtesy — and the lesson for every brand owner is worth internalizing now, long before you ever find yourself in a proceeding. The facts are a cautionary tale i

Here's a question most business owners never ask: can the way your product is packaged be so ordinary that the law won't let you own it? The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board just answered yes — and expanded the meaning of "generic" to reach product packaging itself. In In re Odd Sox LLC (TTAB 2026) [precedential], the Board affirmed the USPTO's refusal to register the trade dress of sock packaging — described as a three-dimensional configuration displaying a single pair of so

Here's a strange one. A company licensed to make Godzilla movies tried to register the film title GODZILLA X KONG: THE NEW EMPIRE as a trademark. Toho — the Japanese studio that created Godzilla and owns the character — signed a consent agreement saying it was fine. The Trademark Office still said no. In In re Legend IP Holdings Production, LLC, Serial Nos. 97914992 et al. (TTAB Aug. 13, 2026) [not precedential], the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board affirmed the refusal of tw

Last month, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board answered a question it had never answered before: can a tribe invoke sovereign immunity to make a trademark cancellation case go away? The answer was no — and the reasoning has lessons for every brand owner, not just tribal ones. In Philip Morris USA Inc. v. IP Services International Inc. and Sycuan Tribal Development Corporation, Cancellation No. 92063134 (TTAB 2026) [Precedential], decided in September 2026, the Board denied

In April 2026, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) issued a precedential decision cancelling a credit union's federal trademark registration — not because someone else owned the mark, but because the credit union never genuinely used it in the first place . The case is In re Everwise Credit Union (Reexam. No. 2023-100533R). Everwise had registered EVERWISE CREDIT UNION and, by the deadline to file its Statement of Use, the mark appeared on the company's website. The p

A former associate at a personal injury and medical malpractice firm developed a niche birth-injury practice within the firm — and then tried to register "Birth Justice" as her own trademark for birth-injury legal services after leaving. In a September 2026 decision, the TTAB said no: the rights stayed with the firm. The Board's reasoning was straightforward. She built the service offering on the firm's time, with the firm's resources, under the firm's roof. The firm nurtured

Effective January 1, 2027, the USPTO will incorporate the latest classification changes adopted under the Nice Agreement — the international system for classifying goods and services in trademark registrations (91 Fed. Reg. 54963, Aug. 26, 2026). Classification changes sound administrative. They're not. The class and identification you file under determines your filing fees, determines what your registration actually covers, and determines whether an examiner issues an Office

Introduction The convergence of patent law and technology represents one of the most complex and influential intersections of modern legal and commercial landscapes. As technology continuously evolves, reshaping industries, economies, and societies, the legal frameworks designed to protect these advancements must evolve as well. Patent law, in particular, has become a critical aspect of the tech industry, governing how ideas are protected, shared, and commercialized. At t

In an era defined by unprecedented globalization, the intersection of global health and international law has become increasingly salient. The intricate web of transnational health threats, coupled with the imperative for collective action, underscores the critical role of legal frameworks in addressing global health challenges. Against this backdrop, the nexus of global health and international law emerges as a pivotal arena for shaping policies, fostering cooperation, and s

Climate change stands as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with its far-reaching impacts spanning ecosystems, economies, and societies. In the face of this existential threat, individuals, communities, and organizations around the world are increasingly turning to the power of the law to drive action and accountability. Climate change litigation, a growing phenomenon in legal circles, has emerged as a potent tool for holding governments and corporations account

In an era where data is hailed as the new oil, businesses face increasing pressure to not only harness the power of data but also to protect the privacy and rights of individuals whose information they collect and process. Data privacy regulations serve as guardrails in this digital landscape, shaping how businesses can ethically and legally handle personal data. In this blog post, we'll explore the importance of data privacy regulations for businesses and provide a roadmap f

In the intricate world of business law, court cases often serve as milestones, shaping legal precedents and guiding future decisions. The year 2020 was no exception, witnessing several landmark rulings in federal courts across the United States. From intellectual property disputes to contract interpretations, these cases shed light on various facets of business law and its evolving landscape. Let's delve into 10 key business law cases that left a significant mark in federal c

Navigating International Law: A Guide for Multinational Corporations In today's globalized world, multinational corporations face unique challenges when it comes to navigating international law. With different legal frameworks, regulations, and cultural nuances, conducting business across borders can be complex and overwhelming. However, with the right knowledge and strategy, multinational corporations can successfully navigate these challenges and ensure compliance with int

The Importance of Compliance in Today's Business Landscape In today's rapidly changing business landscape, compliance has become a critical aspect of running a successful and ethical organization. With increasing regulations and scrutiny from government agencies, it is essential for businesses to prioritize compliance to avoid legal and reputational risks. This blog post will explore the importance of compliance and provide some tips on how businesses can ensure they are ope

Intellectual property is often a company's most valuable asset — and its most neglected. Whether you've developed a unique product, created original content, or built a brand customers recognize, safeguarding your IP is essential to maintaining a competitive edge. Chicago intellectual property attorney Gaurav Mohindra shares seven practical steps businesses should take. Intellectual property is often a company's most valuable asset — and its most neglected. Whether you've dev