[E-trademarks] Mark description in registration describes colors, but no claim to color made--what happens if renewal specimen uses different colors?

Thu Feb 29 21:36:19 EST 2024

Could you do a Section 7 amendment to eliminate the colors from the description?

Best regards,
Richard A. Schafer | Schafer IP Law
P.O. Box 230081 | Houston, TX 77223
M: 832.283.6564 | richard at schafer-ip.com<mailto:richard at schafer-ip.com>

From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks
Sent: Thursday, February 29, 2024 5:51 PM
To: For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Kevin Grierson <kgrierson at cm.law>
Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Mark description in registration describes colors, but no claim to color made--what happens if renewal specimen uses different colors?

No, no lining patterns for color (I do remember those, and yes, it makes me feel old), the image of the mark is in greyscale.   I think the mark description was a mistake by the filing attorney. In any event, TSDR says there is no claim to color, and the registration certificate mentions the colors in the mark description but does not reference a color claim either.

Kevin Grierson
CULHANE|MEADOWS PLLC<http://www.culhanemeadows.com/>
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From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>> On Behalf Of Pamela Chestek via E-trademarks
Sent: Thursday, February 29, 2024 6:44 PM
To: e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Pamela Chestek <pamela at chesteklegal.com<mailto:pamela at chesteklegal.com>>
Subject: Re: [E-trademarks] Mark description in registration describes colors, but no claim to color made--what happens if renewal specimen uses different colors?

EXTERNAL EMAIL
Is the drawing not lined for color? Applications filed before November 2003 could use a drawing in black and white with various lining patterns used to represent different colors. See TMEP 808.01(b). So it sounds like it may actually have a color claim that, presumably, matches the description.

I'm not sure where you can find a copy of the patterns, I couldn't locate it quickly in the TMEP. But I'm sure someone on this list knows where it is! Used to be in the CFR.

Pam
Pamela S. Chestek
Chestek Legal
300 Fayetteville St.
Unit 2402
Raleigh, NC 27602
+1 919-800-8033
pamela at chesteklegal.com<mailto:pamela at chesteklegal.com>
www.chesteklegal.com<http://www.chesteklegal.com/>
On 2/29/2024 6:25 PM, Kevin Grierson via E-trademarks wrote:
Hi folks, this is a weird one.  Inherited a fairly old registration (filed 2001, registered 2004) with lots of scanned paper filings, so I’m having a hard time figuring out what happened, but my client has a registration for a mark with a design component.  The application and registration do NOT reference a claim to color, but the mark description DOES, so for example, if the mark was ACME next to a flag, the description reads “The mark consists of the word ACME in red next to a flag consisting of red and white stripes.”    The application was based on a foreign registration in color; my guess is that the original counsel omitted (forgot?) the color claim but described the original foreign mark in the application.

20+ years later, client has decided to change the color scheme, so now ACME is in green and the flag has green and white stripes.  Would a specimen in the new color scheme filed with a Section 8 declaration be accepted?  As noted, the registration doesn’t claim color (and for what it’s worth, the office’s official drawing is in black and white) but the specimen would not match the description of the mark. Thankfully, we recently filed the second renewal with a specimen that matches the colors in the description, but I’m thinking down the road about the next renewal and whether it makes sense to file a new application now.

I have looked through the TMEP at the sections dealing with mark descriptions, but all the sections I’ve found deal with pre-registration review issues, not what effect (if any) an inaccurate description has on post-registration filings.

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin Grierson<https://www.culhanemeadows.com/attorney/kevin-grierson/> (he/him)
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