What is the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board?
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative tribunal within the USPTO that decides certain trademark disputes. The TTAB does not determine trademark infringement or award damages; instead, it decides issues related to the registration of trademarks.
The TTAB handles matters such as:
Appeals from final trademark refusals.
Trademark oppositions.
Trademark cancellation proceedings
An intent-to-use application allows an applicant with a genuine plan to use a mark to begin the federal application process before actual commercial use begins. Registration cannot issue on the intent alone. At the appropriate stage, the applicant must submit evidence of use through an Amendment to Allege Use or Statement of Use, depending on where the application is in the USPTO process.
Trademark applications can also be delayed, suspended, abandoned, or refused for different reasons. 'Suspended' generally means processing is temporarily paused; 'abandoned' means the application is no longer active; and a 'refusal' means the USPTO has identified a legal basis preventing registration unless the issue can be overcome.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency responsible for examining U.S. trademark applications, issuing federal registrations, and maintaining official trademark records.
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is an administrative tribunal within the USPTO that handles appeals from final refusals and certain registration disputes such as oppositions and cancellations. It does not decide trademark infringement damages.