Trademark Integrity Under Microscope With Proposed Rule Change

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is looking to change its rule governing samples in trademark applications that demonstrate use in commerce.

The agency released the proposal May 22, and it’s expected to be finalized in the fall, as part of the Trump administration’s spring regulatory agenda. The proposed rule is part of a broader push to fight fake specimens and specimens that fail to demonstrate proper use, a requirement for trademark registration.

The agency said it expects to start accepting comments in June on a proposed amendment to its rule on specimens meant to “better conform to the statutory ...