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Who can raise trademark oppositions?

Founder & Trademark Attorney

Any party with a real and legitimate interest in the outcome of a trademark application can file an opposition during the publication period. The opposing party is most commonly the owner of an earlier registered or pending trademark that is confusingly similar to the applied-for mark.

Other than earlier owners, consumer protection agencies, interest groups, and geographical indication authorities may all oppose a trademark. In some jurisdictions, even members of the general public sometimes oppose marks that are considered offensive or deceptive. The grounds for opposition vary by jurisdiction, but the standard requirement is that the opposing party can demonstrate a direct and genuine interest in preventing the mark's registration.

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