·13 min read
What TESS Did Right and Wrong (And How Modern APIs Improve On It)
TESS served the USPTO for 25 years. A technical analysis of its design decisions, what worked, what failed, and how modern trademark APIs solve each limitation.
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Blog
Insights and updates from Signa
Maya Tan
·13 min read
Trademark Opposition: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Respond
Trademark opposition is a formal challenge to block a pending mark. Learn the grounds, the USPTO and international process, and how to respond if you face one.
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·12 min read
How to Trademark an App Name (Before Someone Else Does)
Class 9 has 847,000+ active registrations at the USPTO. Learn how to trademark an app name, which classes to file, and mistakes that get developers rejected.
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·8 min read
TM vs R Symbol: When to Use Each (and the Mistake That Can Kill Your Application)
TM vs R symbol: TM claims unregistered trademark rights from day one, R requires federal registration. Misuse the R symbol and the USPTO can treat it as fraud.
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·13 min read
Trademark Essentials for E-Commerce Sellers: What to Protect, When to File, and How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
An ecommerce trademark gives you platform access, brand protection, and enforcement power. What to file, when to file, and 5 mistakes that cost sellers money.
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·13 min read
The Hard Problem: Normalizing Trademark Data Across 11 Offices
Trademark data normalization means mapping 200+ status codes, local-language goods descriptions, and mismatched entities across 11 offices into one API schema.
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·14 min read
How Trademark Name Search Works: From TESS to APIs
Learn how trademark name search works, from government databases like TESS to modern APIs. Covers phonetic matching, Nice classes, and clearance workflows.
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·17 min read
The BOOKING.COM Supreme Court Decision Explained
The Booking.com trademark case ended the per se rule for generic.com marks. Six years later, it changed less than expected. Full analysis of the 8-1 ruling.
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·12 min read
Trademark for Software: What SaaS Founders Need to Protect, When to File, and What It Actually Costs
Filing a trademark for software costs $350-$700 at the USPTO. Learn which classes SaaS companies need, the 5-step process, and mistakes that cause rejection.
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