Hospital marketing budgets are tight as a result of COVID-19 disruptions. Margins are thin. So healthcare executives continue to explore new ways to capture lost revenue streams. While there are no easy answers, creating a hospital brand licensing program can help achieve several financial goals.
Why License? According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), hospital and health systems losses due to COVID-19 totaled $202.6 billion. Even strong health system brands have not been immune. When…
Healthcare brand valuation remains a high priority to healthcare organizations during COVID-19. The first step is to understand the inherent value of the intellectual assets that comprise your brand.
Brand assets defined. Brand assets consist of a healthcare organization’s creative output, each component of which holds economic value. Just like real estate, automobiles, jewelry, or other forms of tangible property, healthcare brands are valued assets as well. Specifically, healthcare brands are categorized as intangible assets. …
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has adapted to the COVID-19 era. Yet, performance challenges in certain operational areas remain. This is the conclusion of the USPTO FY 2020 Annual Report. Our previous article on TTAB statistics in the age of COVID-19 may be found here.
TTAB FY 2020 performance. The TTAB is responsible for the adjudication of trademark opposition, trademark cancellation, and ex parte appeals. The USPTO fiscal year commences on October 1…
COVID-19 has not significantly impacted TTAB filings in fiscal year (FY) 2020. It has, however, negatively impacted some performance goals. That is the conclusion of the FY 2020 report posted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Our previous article on TTAB activities during COVID may be found here.
A. FY 2020- TTAB filings: (trademark oppositions and trademark cancellations)
2020 fiscal year filing information is reflected below. The percentage change from fiscal year 2019…
A recent trademark opposition case shows that a trademark disclaimer can make a difference.
In Foundation Medicine, Inc. v. Alfred F. Czap, the Applicant sought registration of the trademark FOUNDATIONAL MEDICINE REVIEW for journals in the field of medicine. Foundation Medicine, Inc. opposed the application. In doing so, it relied on two prior registrations of FOUNDATION MEDICINE. One was for the word mark and the other was with a design logo. The…
Recent TTAB filing statistics reveal that COVID-19 has not substantially impacted U.S. trademark opposition filings. While trademark opposition filings are slightly below pace compared to last year, trademark cancellation activities are on the rise. This is good news for brand owners and practitioners everywhere. Our previously reported summary of 2019 TTAB statistics may be found here.
2020 year to date (YTD) filing information (which includes three quarters) with percent changes over the same time period…
The impact of COVID-19 TTAB filing activities is still too soon to tell. But recent TTAB statistics provide a glance as compared to YTD activities from the preceding yearly period.
TTAB filings from October 2019 through March 2020 are summarized below. The percentage change over the same period in 2019 is reflected in parentheses:
Trademark oppositions filed: 3,480 (N.A.)
Trademark cancellations: 1, 286 (+6%)
Extensions of time to oppose: 9,694 (-5.4%)
Appeals: 1,666 (N.A.)
Of…
The USPTO has issued COVID-19 updates for trademark owners and counsel. This supersedes the March 31, 2020 notice previously reported here.
The USPTO continues to view the Coronavirus outbreak to be an extraordinary situation within the meaning of 37 CFR Section 2.146 for affected trademark applicants and owners. Therefore, it has issued the following updates to its earlier rules to provide relief in certain situations:
Response due dates. Relief continues for a limited time…
We recently spoke with Amy Chan, principal of the Trade Marks team of Spruson & Ferguson to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted trademark opposition and cancellation procedures in Singapore and Malaysia.
1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Singapore and Malaysia policies and procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations?
IP Offices in Singapore and Malaysia are taking steps to protect the well-being of their employees, customers and stakeholders and are closed during this period.…
We recently spoke with Patricio Albornoz, senior associate at Bomchil Abogados in Buenos Aires, to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted Argentina trademark opposition and cancellation rules and procedures.
1. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your national trademark office’s policies and procedures regarding trademark oppositions, cancellations, and invalidations?
The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) issued INPI Resolution No. RESOL-2020-16-APN-INPI # MDP, to suspend all deadlines related to any Argentina trademark opposition, notifications, and Office…