What Kinds of Complications Can Arise When Filing a Trademark Application With the USPTO?
The most common grounds for refusal is likelihood of confusion between the applicant’s mark and a previously registered mark or that the mark is merely descriptive in relation to the applicant’s goods or services. Further (but less common) grounds of refusal include that the mark was determined to be primarily geographically descriptive, primarily geographically misdescriptive, a generic term, primarily merely a surname (Smith Apples), a deceptive mark, or a scandalous or immoral trademark.
