Yes, not only are reissue applications considered "special" applications, they are actually taken up for action ahead of other "special" applications. MPEP 1442 staets: "All reissue applications, except those under suspension because of litigation or a pending trial before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), will be taken up for action ahead of other "special" applications; this means that all issues not deferred will be treated and responded to immediately."
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No. MPEP 1411 specifically states: "Any change in the patent made via the reissue application should be checked to ensure that it does not introduce new matter. Note that new matter may exist by virtue of the omission of a feature or of a step in a method. See United States Industrial Chemicals, Inc. v. Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corp., 315 U.S. 668, 53 USPQ 6 (1942)."
No, marketing designations are improper as titles and should not be used.
The preamble is entirely optional. If it is included, it should state the name of the applicant, the title of the design, and a brief description of the nature and intended use of the article in which the design is embodied. All information contained in the preamble will be printed on the patent should the claimed design be deemed patentable.
Example: "I, John Doe, have invented a new design for a jewelry cabinet, as set forth in the following specification. The claimed jewelry cabinet is used to store jewelry and could sit on a bureau." In most cases, only a single design can be included in a U.S. design patent. On some occasions, small variations of a single design can be included in one U.S. design patent application, but when this occurs, it usually requires negotiation with the patent examiner.
No, a design cover letter is entirely optional. In the overwhelming majority of cases, a design cover letter is unnecessary.
No, a design patent application cannot claim priority to a provisional application.
Most design marks are submitted to the USPTO in black and white / grayscale format, with color not being specifically claimed. If your mark includes any amount of color, all colors used in your image must be listed on the trademark registration application, and there is a risk that your trademark protection could be limited to your design as embodied in only those specific colors you have claimed. For example, if your registration application claims red lettering of “Acme Inc.” on a yellow background, your trademark protection may be limited to only the red/yellow color combination, so another company may conceivably be able to use the “Acme Inc.” in blue lettering on a green background without infringing your trademark. This is why color marks are usually avoided. Note that if you wish to avoid registering a color mark, you must submit a black and white/grayscale image of your mark to the USPTO.
Standard character marks enjoy broader trademark protection than stylized or design marks, for standard character marks do not claim any particular font, style, size, color, or design element. In other words, a standard character mark protects the phrase/string of characters regardless of how the letters are displayed.
Here are eight such benefits:
1.) It creates a rebuttable presumption that you are the owner of the mark (note, however, that even with this presumption – someone else can still prove they are the rightful owner because they used the mark before you). 2.) It gives you a legal presumption of the exclusive right to use your mark nationwide with the goods and services identified in your registration (while common law protection is limited to the geographic area where the business activity occurs and possibly to geographic areas where the business could reasonably expand). 3.) It puts the public on notice that you are the owner of the mark. 4.) Your business will be listed in the USPTO database. This means that others who are considering which mark to use for their own business may find your mark there, and it thus may prevent a confusingly similar mark from registering. 5.) It gives you the ability to record your trademark with U.S. Customs and Border protection. That agency will prevent importation of infringing or counterfeit foreign goods. (You need to separately register for that service, however). 6.) It gives you the right to bring a trademark lawsuit in federal court (which is often preferable than bringing it in state court—whereas common law trademark owners must bring their actions in state court). 7.) It gives you a basis for filing trademark registrations in many foreign countries. 8.) You can use the R symbol - ®. (You can’t do that unless it your mark registered--although common law trademarks can still use the “TM” symbol). |
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