Identification of Goods and/or Services: A description of the specific goods and/or services associated with a trademark or service mark, provided in a trademark application to specify the scope of protection sought.
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IC: International Class.
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IB: International Bureau, the administrative arm of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
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IAC: Inventors Assistance Center.
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Hold Harmless: Hold harmless agreements can be synonymous with indemnity agreements.
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Home Copy: A copy of an international application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) maintained by the receiving office where the international application was filed.
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Genericide: When a trademark becomes generic and no longer protectable. Examples include Aspirin, Heroin, Cellophane, Butterscotch, Touch-Tone, Escalator, Trampoline, Thermos, Dry Ice, Kerosene, Laundromat, Linoleum, App Store, Xerox, Yo-Yo, Zip Code, Zipper, TV Dinner, and Video Tape.
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Generic Terms (Trademarks): Terms used by the general public to identify the type of product or service as opposed to the source of the product or service.
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Generic Misspellings: A strategy to avoid trademark infringement by misspelling a product’s or service’s name.
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Fraud Litigation: A form of commercial litigation involving a false statement made to induce another to rely upon it to his/her detriment. For more information, see our Fraud Litigation page.
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Franchising & Franchise Agreements: Agreements between a franchisor on one hand and a franchisee on the other. For more information, see our Franchising & Franchise Agreements page.
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Formal Patent Drawings: Standardized illustrations compliant with certain regulations used for patent applications.
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Filing Date: The date the Copyright Office or the United States Patent and Trademark Office receives an application with the subject matter and all required materials. This could include a required filing or application fee.
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Filing Basis: The legal basis for filing an application to register a trademark. Typically, trademark applications are filed based on use or intent to use in the future.
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Federal Trademark Registration: A trademark registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which enjoys rights such as nation-wide priority and certain presumptions.
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Fanciful Trademark: A trademark consisting of a made-up word or phrase that has no meaning other than as a trademark and does not describe the qualities of the goods or service for which the mark acts as the source identifier.
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Famous Trademarks under Federal Law: Trademarks that qualify as famous under 15 U.S.C. Section 1125(c) of the Lanham Act. Examples include McDonald’s Golden Arches and Nike’s Swoosh.
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False Marking of Patent: Marking a product with a patent number that does not cover the product. This can occur when a patent expires and the marking is not removed.
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False Advertising: An advertisement considered to be false or misleading to consumers.
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False Advertising Litigation: Litigation, typically under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1125, involving alleged false statements made in commerce. For more information, see our False Advertising page.
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