…For Certain Trademark And Service Mark Applications
By Emmanuel Oluebube, Correspondent UK
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced a new COVID-19 prioritized examination programme for certain trademark and service mark applications.
Under this new programme, the USPTO will accept petitions to advance the initial examination of applications for marks used to identify qualifying COVID-19 medical products and services. Additionally, the USPTO will waive the fee for such petitions.
“Inventors and entrepreneurs are working around the clock to develop products that will help prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure COVID-19,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Andrei Iancu. “Accelerating initial examination of COVID-19-related trademark applications for these products, as well as service mark applications for medical and medical research services, will help to bring important and possibly life-saving treatments to market more quickly.”
To qualify for the new programme, the application must cover a product that is subject to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19 or a medical or medical research service for the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19.
