Surname Trademark Refusal: What It Means and How to Overcome a Section 2(e)(4) Rejection
Introduction
Receiving a Surname Trademark Refusal from the USPTO can feel like a significant setback, especially for business owners who have built their brand around a family name or personal identity. Under Section 2(e)(4) of the Lanham Act, the USPTO routinely refuses trademark applications when an examiner determines that the proposed mark is primarily merely a surname in the...