Bitcoin Forum

Bitcoin => Legal => Topic started by: HELP.org on December 09, 2014, 03:08:38 AM



Title: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: HELP.org on December 09, 2014, 03:08:38 AM
I filed a 30-day extension today.  I drafted an opposition and I have until early January to file it.

Since Bitcoin is not owned by anyone there is generally nobody to oppose these things.  The Foundation said they were looking into it about 18 months ago but I have never heard anything.  Advice from someone who knows about TTAB filings would be good.  If someone want to file an opposition there is 3 days left to get an extension.

https://cointext.com/bitcoin-trademark-opposition-3-day-extension-filed/


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: 1echo on December 09, 2014, 03:26:10 AM
wow this is big, just bumping for others to notice.


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: HELP.org on December 17, 2014, 06:04:20 PM
Opposition was filed today:

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91219797&pty=OPP&eno=1


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: mymenace on December 18, 2014, 08:00:11 PM
I know a little of trademarks but I suppose it depends on the country and i am not current on US trademark laws

This has been previously used in other countries
If you have used the name/logo for many years without trademark and it is well known that the name/logo is used for a certain entity, the trademark being applied will be either;

1) Denied

2) Approved but can be easily opposed

3) or in the end litigated due to previous knowledge of the original entities ownership due to usage



Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: Cøbra on December 19, 2014, 10:02:30 PM
Nice. I just read your opposition and it seems very solid.

It's important to fight these dodgy trademarks before they get approved. Trademark owners can attempt to obtain domain names by threatening to make a false cyber-squatting claim against the owner, even though they have no right to the name and would lose in court. It is called "reverse domain hijacking". They are basically hoping that the owner will be too intimidated or embarrassed to defend their property and so will cave in to their demands.


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: HELP.org on December 20, 2014, 12:07:42 AM
Nice. I just read your opposition and it seems very solid.

It's important to fight these dodgy trademarks before they get approved. Trademark owners can attempt to obtain domain names by threatening to make a false cyber-squatting claim against the owner, even though they have no right to the name and would lose in court. It is called "reverse domain hijacking". They are basically hoping that the owner will be too intimidated or embarrassed to defend their property and so will cave in to their demands.

Mt. gox already have registered marks for "bitcoin" in the EU and I think Japan.  I heard stories that some people had trouble registering domains because that trademark is in the trademark clearinghouse database.  Not sure about this this because bitcoin was registered in several new TLD's.  In any case a TM owner of "Bitcoin" in any class can top domain registrations since a domain does not have a class associated with it like trademarks.  http://www.trademark-clearinghouse.com/content/what-trademark-clearinghouse


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: HELP.org on January 30, 2015, 04:40:16 PM
I filed a motion for Default Judgment today.  They did not answer the opposition so unless they come up with an acceptable excuse as to why they didn't answer in time then the application gets cancelled.

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91219797&pty=OPP&eno=4


Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: HELP.org on March 02, 2015, 08:42:03 PM
I won my case by default and the TM application is cancelled.

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91219797&pty=OPP&eno=5


To help pay for the filing I am selling the Bitcoin promotional coins I had pressed for 0.02 BTC each, free shipping for a limited time.  See http://CoinReserve.com for pics.



Title: Re: Bitcoin US trademark opposition
Post by: Exther2 on March 04, 2015, 07:10:09 PM
Yes and it is a good news.
Bitcoin is a trademark already official or not it just is - that's a fact.