May 14, 2026

Authored by: Blake R. Hartz Understanding trademark specimen requirements is one of the most misunderstood aspects of U.S. trademark prosecution. A specimen that fails to meet the USPTO’s requirements can lead to office actions, delays, and additional costs that are…

May 12, 2026

The USPTO’s Patent Fraud Mitigation Unit is aggressively targeting unauthorized representatives and fraudulent submissions in patent proceedings, and the numbers are striking. Bad actors operating as unauthorized representatives undermine the integrity of the patent system, delay legitimate applications, and increase…

May 5, 2026

Authored by: Joshua P. Astin For years, Indiana stood as one of a shrinking number of states that entirely prohibited high school athletes from profiting off their name, image, or likeness. That changes next school year. On May 4, 2026,…

April 24, 2026

NIL Branding Opportunities: Context Is Key A recent article by Josh Astin and Andrew Nevill in The Indiana Lawyer offers a timely reminder for anyone advising in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) space: opportunity is abundant, but it is…

April 9, 2026

Authored by: Blake R. Hartz When filing a U.S. trademark application, one of the fundamental decisions applicants face is whether to seek registration on the Principal Register or the Supplemental Register. While many applicants may not be aware that two…

March 25, 2026

COX COMMUNICATIONS v. SONY MUSIC Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The Supreme Court handed down a major decision on secondary copyright liability, ruling that an internet service provider cannot be held liable for its subscribers’ copyright infringement simply because it…

March 20, 2026

Authored by: Michael M. Morris and Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a final rule requiring patent applicants and patent owners who are not domiciled in the United States or its territories to be…

March 19, 2026

Authored by: Jeremy J. Gustrowsky The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced the release of a new artificial intelligence tool designed to speed up one of the most time-consuming steps in trademark application processing. Called the “Classification…

March 12, 2026

Authored by: Blake R. Hartz U.S. trademark applicants must establish both a filing basis and a registration basis. While this may sound straightforward, the distinction between these two concepts and the specific requirements associated with each can be a source…

March 8, 2026

Celebrating the Untold Stories of Women Inventors this International Women’s Day When most people hear the name Hedy Lamarr, they picture the glamorous Hollywood actress who graced silver screens in the 1940s and 1950s. What they don’t envision is a…

February 23, 2026

Authored by: Shane T. Moreillon Since August 3, 2019, the landscape for international trademark practice in the United States fundamentally changed. If you represent clients seeking trademark protection in the U.S. market, understanding the mandatory U.S. counsel requirement is essential…

January 26, 2026

Authored by: Shane T. Moreillon For attorneys practicing outside the United States, the American trademark priority system often presents a unique challenge. Unlike the straightforward “first-to-file” systems common in many jurisdictions worldwide, the U.S. operates a hybrid approach that combines…