Trademark Opposition

A trademark is usually a phrase, a word, a design or a symbol or it could also be a combination of phrases, symbols, words or designs, that helps to identify and differentiate the source of the goods of one party or firm or company from any other. A trademark should be unusual and not descriptive and should be attached to the item that is being sold or offered for, in terms of services. The said Trademark should also be registered with the appropriate authority in order to obtain protection rights and proper legal ownership. A trademark application is passed through different stages before a trademark is registered. The applicant needs to reply or take action during few stages of trademark registration. One of such stages of trademark registration is opposed. During the process of Trademark Registration, the trademark registrar approves a trademark to be advertised in the Trademark Journal before it gets registered. After advertisement of Trademark in trademark journal, if someone feels that the trademark is non-distinctive or similar to registered trademark, the trademark can be opposed. The registrar of trademark changes the status of trademark from “Advertised” to “Opposed” in such cases. The trademark applicant is required to counter the opposition within 2 months of receiving the notice of opposition of trademark.