Lawmakers Unveil Trademark Bill That Would Speed Up Cancellation

A bipartisan group of House and Senate lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a trademark bill that would allow a new business or third party to request that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office quickly cancel the registration of never-used marks.

The “expedited” ex parte cancellation procedures also would apply to the mark that was not used before registration, according to a statement Wednesday from Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a Senate sponsor of the bill. The new procedures would add to traditional inter partes cancellation.

The bill also would “codify additional trademark examination procedures,” aimed at giving the Patent and Trademark ...