Trademark Clearinghouse Registrations – Change to the “D.O.T. Rule”

Good news for MRS. FIELDS, DR. SEUSS, and certain other brands having a period or “dot” as part of the mark. Although originally excluded from registration, the Trademark Clearinghouse is now accepting registered trademarks containing a period or dot where it functions as: an abbreviation (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, MR. BUBBLE), punctuation (BEEF. IT’S WHAT’S FOR DINNER., JUST DO IT.), or a figurative part of the registered mark

Registered marks having the period or dot positioned at the beginning of the mark (.ICANN) or before a top level extension (AMAZON.COM, PAY.GOV) are still excluded from registration.

This article appeared in the January 2014 issue of MarkIt to Market. To view our past issues, as well as other firm newsletters, please click here.