What Is An Office Action?

Whether you're interested in protecting a well-established brand or you're starting a new business, filing a trademark application can be a very exciting and positive step toward protecting your intellectual property. The trademark application process, however, can be tricky. There is often the risk that the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") will issue an office action in response to an application for trademark protection. While some office actions are relatively insignificant, others can have devastating consequences if not addressed appropriately.

What Is An Office Action?

An office action is an official letter from the USPTO that lists any problems with your Trademark application. The office action may present a "requirement" or a "refusal" based on the contents of your application or the applied-for mark itself. A requirement requires (naturally) you to revise, fix or provide additional information to the USPTO, while a refusal is a