Glut of Fake, Unused Trademarks Draw House Panel’s Scrutiny

House lawmakers are questioning whether to empower the Patent and Trademark Office to remove unlawful trademarks from its register even if no one is challenging them.

The House Judiciary Committee’s IP subcommittee July 18 questioned Commissioner of Trademarks Mary Boney Denison about challenges that prevent the patent office from weeding out phony trademark registrations. The hearing also addressed the dangers that fake products, such as toys and auto parts, can pose to consumers.

The agency has the technology to identify “the bad guys” on its trademark register, but it doesn’t have the power to toss trademarks without an outside party ...