Trademark specimen

In the United States, when filing for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the applicant has to submit a so-called specimen, proof of the mark being used in commerce. In other words, the specimen is an example of how customers would encounter the mark in the US market - e.g., on a label, product packaging, website, etc.

The purpose of the specimen is to prove to the USPTO that the trademark isn't just an idea or concept but is actually being used to identify and distinguish goods or services in the marketplace. The USPTO may refuse applications without acceptable specimens.

Below, we have compiled the most common questions about providing trademark specimen:

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