[E-trademarks] Privilege question

[Janet Satterthwaite]

Colleagues,

I am continually amazed to see how many lawyers are routinely signing trademark applications and Section 8 declarations.

This is not a good idea!!!!


When a lawyer signs a Section 8 or Section 71 declaration for some foreign-based kitchen-sink registration, and there is later a cancellation action based on the suspicion that the mark was not in fact in use on all the goods or services, but was in fact abandoned,  that lawyer IMHO becomes a fact witness and is going to be deposed.

I also assume that any communication between him and the client regarding inquiring as to the use of the mark is not privileged, as it becomes evidence of the due diligence done by the person who signed the declaration.

Has anyone actually litigated this issue?

thx

Janet




Janet F. Satterthwaite|Partner/ Chair, Trademark Practice|Potomac Law Group, PLLC

1717 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 1025

Washington, D.C. 20006

202-486-1578

jsatterthwaite at potomaclaw.com<mailto:jsatterthwaite at potomaclaw.com>|www.potomaclaw.com<https://www.potomaclaw.com>


https://www.potomaclaw.com/professionals-janet-f-satterthwaite

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