L.A. TECH & MEDIA LAW FIRM – Intellectual Property & Technology Law

E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys’ Role in Amazon Brand Verification Process

E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys' Role in Amazon Brand Verification Process

E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys' Role in Amazon Brand Verification Process

Federal Trademark Registration in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides many brand protection benefits to e-commerce startups and small businesses selling goods on Amazon.com, sometimes this protection requires the involvement of an E-Commerce trademark attorney or other intellectual law firm or lawyer. Under the new Amazon Brand Registry process E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys of e-commerce startups are even more involved, sometimes contacted directly by Amazon to verify the owner of a brand that is a registered trademark on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Database of federal trademarks.

Below is an explanation of traditional legal benefits of federal trademark registration, and how with the consultation of an E-Commerce trademark attorney, federal trademark application filing and registration in the USPTO for E-commerce companies selling on Amazon now provides additional benefits that streamlines their Amazon stores performance, listings in search results, and infringement enforcement options against counterfeits on Amazon.com.

The traditional key legal benefits of federal trademark registration to brand owners on amazon.com include:

  • E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys' Role in Amazon Brand Verification ProcessPublic notice of claim of ownership of the mark
  • A legal presumption of ownership of the mark
  • Exclusive right to use the trademark in connection with the goods or services listed in the registration
  • The ability to bring an action concerning the mark in federal court
  • The use of the U.S. registration as a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries
  • The ability to record the U.S. registration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • The right to use the federal registration symbol ®
  • Listing in the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s online databases and constructive notice trademark rights (Principal Register only)
  • Consultation with a trademark attorney experienced in E-commerce law and startups

While federal trademark registration is not required to vest trademark rights under common law, as one can see, federal trademark

Federal Trademark Prosecution Services - L.A. Tech and Media Law Firm
Federal Trademark Prosecution Services – L.A. Tech and Media Law Firm

provides significant legal advantages to brand owners, whether an e-commerce tech startup venture or other company, however, companies should consult their e-commerce and trademark attorneys before relying on common law rights.

Increased Benefits of U.S. Trademark Registration to E-Commerce Sellers on Amazon through Amazon Brand Registry

Trademark disputes on e-commerce platforms like Amazon® have been ongoing since the early days of the internet. With the rise of e-commerce, brand disputes on Amazon.com between amazon sellers have increased dramatically. As a result, the largest e-commerce company in the United States has announced its new Amazon Brand Registry .This is a process where, if a brand is a registered trademark on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database, the brand may enroll in Amazon’s Brand Registry and subsequently reap the benefits on Amazon.com such as:

  • Product listing protection from other sellers;
  • Ad approval;
  • Priority on enforcement in the event of trademark infringement;
  • Enhanced brand content;

Amazon’s reliance on the federal trademark registration process in the USPTO is wise because the USPTO is well designed to review trademark applications of E-commerce companies for trademark validity, conflict, likelihood of confusion and other requirements of trademark protection, before issuing a federal registration on a trademark application. Since a brand dispute or trademark infringement allegation on Amazon.com will be based on underlying trademarks rights, using the Federal Trademark Registration process makes sense and E-Commerce and Trademark Attorney can help analyze issues, options, and methods of enforcement for trademark infringement and brand disputes.

Some common law trademark owners who have not yet obtained, or otherwise disqualified from federal trademark registration may suffer from this new program. However, overall, Amazon.com’s reliance on the most advanced and sophisticated trademark protection registry in the world, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Database, is a step in the right direction to provide a fair forum for brand owners to claim their trademark rights on Amazon.com, and enforce their exclusive federal trademark rights against counterfeits and infringers, whether on Amazon, Overstock, Alibaba, Shopify, or any other e-commerce forum in the United States. This step has increased the value of trademark registration for E-Commerce startups on Amazon tremendously.

E-Commerce Trademark Attorneys' Role in Amazon Brand Verification Process
www.brandservices.amazon.com

How Amazon Verifies Registered Trademark Ownership With U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and E-Commerce Sellers By Contacting the E-Commerce Trademark Attorney of Record

The appeal of a brand registry is self-evident to Amazon Sellers, it gives trademark owners additional legal benefits that heighten the inherent value of registering trademarks through the USPTO, by using the Registration to prove validity to Amazon, and letting Amazon then take enforcement action against trademark infringers and counterfeit products or online stores. With the assistance of an experienced e-commerce and trademark attorney, the process is facilitated with a higher degree of authenticity.

Once an application for a federal trademark is filed and matures to registration, or if a federally registered trademark has already been obtained and registration has been issued by the USPTO, the designated e-commerce trademark attorney of record is sent a secret verification passcode from Amazon.com. The trademark attorney of record then provides the passcode to the trademark owner of the e-commerce company who is the Amazon Seller and e-commerce provider, the seller will then complete the final step of the Amazon Brand Registry enrollment.

As a result, Entrepreneurs and technology startups who have an e-commerce on Amazon.com can now reap additional benefits from their federal trademark registration by working with an expert e-commerce and trademark attorney and enrolling the federally registered trademark in the Amazon Brand Registry.


Screen Shot 2014-09-21 at 11.16.38 PMAuthor: David N. Sharifi, Esq. is a Los Angeles based intellectual property attorney and technology startup consultant with focuses in entertainment law, emerging technologies, trademark protection, and “the internet of things”. David was recognized as one of the Top 30 Most Influential Attorneys in Digital Media and E-Commerce Law by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2014. Office: Ph: 310-751-0181; david@latml.com.

Disclaimer: The content above is a discussion of legal issues and general information; it does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as such without seeking professional legal counsel. Reading the content above does not create an attorney-client relationship. All trademarks are the property of L.A. Tech & Media Law Firm or their respective owners. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. 

David N. Sharifi, Esq.
David N. Sharifi, Esq.

David N. Sharifi, Esq. is a Los Angeles based intellectual property attorney and technology startup consultant with focuses in entertainment law, emerging technologies, trademark protection, and “the internet of things”. David was recognized as one of the Top 30 Most Influential Attorneys in Digital Media and E-Commerce Law by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
Office: Ph: 310-751-0181; david@latml.com.

Disclaimer: The content above is a discussion of legal issues and general information; it does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as such without seeking professional legal counsel. Reading the content above does not create an attorney-client relationship. All trademarks are the property of L.A. Tech & Media Law Firm or their respective owners. Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.

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