Petitions for Cancellation of an Active Trademark Registration Can Now Be Done Via The TTAB Center

The United States Patent and Trademark Office announces a new option for Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (also referred to as the “TTAB”) petitioners to file a petition for cancellation via the Office’s new system, the TTAB Center, in order to initiate a cancellation proceeding. A “cancellation proceeding” is a TTAB proceeding in which a […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Received An Invitation For Inclusion in Who’s Who in America

Donika Pentcheva has received an invitation to be included in America’s preeminent biographical publisher since 1898: Who’s Who in America. For over 125 years, Who’s Who in America has been the best-known and most trusted biographical resource on America’s most accomplished individuals since 1898. Individuals are selected based upon current position, and usually with information […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Received “America’s Most Honored Lawyers” Award For The Year 2025

Donika Pentcheva has been recognized as one of “America’s Most Honored Lawyers” for the year 2025.

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Cordially Invited to An Event At Her Alma Mater

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to an event at her alma mater. The event is focused solely on intellectual property law. Also, it is pretty amazing that one of Donika Pentcheva’s classmates from her alma mater is now the Commissioner of The American Association of Professional Baseball, as shown by the signature on the official […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited To April’s USPTO Hour, Hosted By The Office of The Commissioner for Trademarks

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to attend April’s USPTO Hour, hosted by the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks from United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). The USPTO Hour will focus on trademark pendency and register protection. The USPTO Hour will feature the following USPTO Leadership Team Members: Question: What Designer’s dress am I […]

The United States Patent and Trademark Office Issues Interim Processes for Patent Trial and Appeal Board Workload Management

On March 26, 2025, the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a Memorandum to all Patent Trial and Appeal Board Judges (“PTAB Judges”). According to the Memorandum, decisions on whether to institute an Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) or Post-Grant Review (“PGR”) […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited to the Nation’s Leading Event for Contract Management, Procurement, and Acquisition Professionals

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to the United States’ leading event for contract management, procurement, and acquisition professionals.

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited to An Invite-Only Event At A Top-Ten (10) Law School

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to an invitation-only event at a top-ten law school. The topics will involve discussing “shaping tomorrow.” Feel free to share your thoughts below regarding how you would like to shape tomorrow. I am listening!

Is there an intersection between FDA and intellectual property law?

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to a continuing legal education seminar involving the latest developments at the intersection of FDA and Intellectual Property Law, managed by the Federal Circuit Bar Association Bench and Bar.

What does Easter mean to you?

Please feel free to share in the comments below what Easter may mean to you! On April 19, 2025, while walking into the Mall of America, a complete stranger handed me the following card with money: Happy Easter!

The Classification of Merchandise by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection is Important

Apple filed suit against the U.S. in the U.S. Court of International Trade in which Apple challenged U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s classification of Apple’s iPad 2 Smart Cover under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) Subheading 6307.90.98.  Apple, Inc. v. United States, 375 F. Supp. 3d 1288 (Ct. Int’l Trade 2019).  […]

USPTO Will Accept Petitions to Advance Initial Examination of Applications for Marks Used to Identify Qualifying COVID-19 Medical Products and Services

Beginning June 16, 2020, the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) will accept petitions to advance initial examination of applications for marks used to identify qualifying COVID-19 medical products and services.  Because the USPTO considers the effects of COVID-19 to be an “extraordinary situation” within the meaning of 37 C.F.R. § […]

General Information on Patents: Importance of Filing Applications Promptly

A patent application must be filed in accordance with the United States patent laws. One of the most critical requirements of our patent laws is that a patent application must be filed promptly. As of March 16, 2013, patents will be awarded to the first inventor to file a patent application for a particular invention. […]

The European Patent Office Refuses Two Patent Applications Designating A Machine Inventor

The European Patent Office has refused two European patent applications in which a machine is designated as an inventor. Both patent applications indicate “DABUS” as inventor, which is described as “a type of connectionist artificial intelligence.” The applicant stated that they acquired the right to the European patent from the inventor by being its successor […]

Trademark Licensing Protection Act

Franchising is governed by trademark law which is enacted in the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq. This law requires that franchisors police the use of their intellectual property licensed to third parties so that the brand is consistent and uniform to consumers. While trademark law requires franchisors and franchisees to enact controls to […]