OFFICE ACTIONS & REFUSALS
Office Actions & Refusals
An Office Action is not a rejection. It is the normal back-and-forth of examination, and most are resolved with a focused, well-supported response filed on time.
An Office Action is not a rejection. It is the normal back-and-forth of examination, and most are resolved with a focused, well-supported response filed on time.
In this section
Understanding Office Actions
What an Office Action is, and the deadlines it puts you on.
Understanding Office Actions →Likelihood of Confusion
Why your mark was compared to another registration, and how examiners weigh it.
Likelihood of Confusion →Descriptive, Geographic & Surname Refusals
Three distinct refusal types that get confused with each other.
Descriptive, Geographic & Surname Refusals →Genericness & Functionality Refusals
Why some marks can never be registered, no matter how you argue it.
Genericness & Functionality Refusals →Disclaimer Requirements
Why you may be asked to disclaim part of your own mark.
Disclaimer Requirements →Goods & Services Identification Issues
Fixing vague or non-standard identification language.
Goods & Services Identification Issues →