People also ask
A trademark is any word, name, symbol, device or combination thereof used by a person to identify goods made or sold and to distinguish them from the goods made or sold by another person. In general, you use a trademark to identify a product or goods that are sold (examples include soft drinks, automobiles, magazines and food).
Military personnel, their family members and overseas voters (UOCAVA voters) may receive their absentee ballot via e-mail or by-mail upon request. UOCAVA voters may track when the ballot was received by their local county election commission office. The voted ballot must be received by the local county election commission office by the close of polls on election day to be counted. Please see our complete guide on How to Vote Absentee for Military and Overseas Voters.
You can file form SS-4800 to change the mailing address by mail or in person. A change in Registered Agent or principal address requires filing Articles of Amendment and paying the statutory $20 filing fee. Forms can be found on our the Forms & Fees page for mail and in person filings.
To renew a trademark or service mark use the Application for Renewal of Trademark or Service Mark.
The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 governs trademark registration in Tennessee. The Tennessee Trade Mark Act of 2000 can be found in the Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 47-25-501 through 47-25-518.
How the applicant is using the mark. For example, “business cards”, “letterhead”, “flyers”, “signs”, “labels”, “newspaper advertisements”, “billboards”, “bus benches”, “television advertisements”, “websites”.
The reasons for rejection include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- An incomplete form is submitted. All blanks must be filled in for both registration and renewal applications.
- An acceptable specimen is not provided. A specimen is required for both registration and renewal applications.
- No signature.
- Incomplete dates. Dates must include month, day and year.
- The application is completed in pencil. All registration and renewal applications must be typewritten or completed in ink.
- Failure to include the $20.00 per classification filing fee.
- Failure to include the type of goods and/or services to be provided.
- Failure to include the mode or manner of use.
- Failure to include a classification in the application.
- A new owner is listed in a renewal application.
A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that a service mark is used by a person to identify services rendered or offered and to distinguish them from the services rendered or offered by another person. The services must be provided to the public or any party other than the applicant. In general, you use a service mark to identify services that are offered or sold (examples include restaurant, retail business and computer services).
A specimen is an actual example of the use of the mark in commerce. It is the means by which the public would view your mark and be aware of the specific goods or services offered.
For trademarks, examples of acceptable specimens are tags or labels that are attached to the goods, containers for the goods, displays associated with the goods, or photographs of the goods showing use of the mark of the goods themselves. Invoices, announcements, order forms, bills of lading, leaflets, brochures, catalogs, publicity release, letterhead and business cards may be acceptable specimens for trademarks if they sufficiently demonstrate that the mark is being used with the goods. If it is impractical to send the actual specimens because of its size, photographs or other acceptable reproductions that show the mark on the goods, or packaging for the goods, must be furnished.
For services marks, examples of acceptable specimens are signs, brochures about the services, advertisements for the services, business cards or stationary showing the mark in connection with the services, or photographs that show the mark either as it is used in the rendering or advertising of the services. The specimen must either show the mark and include some clear reference to the type of services rendered under the mark in some form of advertising, or show the mark as it is used in the rendering of the service (for example, on a store front or the side of a delivery truck).
The specimen should not be larger than 8 ½ inches by 11 inches and should be flat. Small specimens, such as tags or labels, must be taped or pasted to a sheet of paper and labeled “SPECIMEN”.
Enter a complete and accurate description of the overall mark. If the mark contains both words and a design element, the description must include both. If a mark is in color, you must list the portions of the mark that are in color and the corresponding color for each. If the description is not accurate, either incomplete or includes words, letters, numbers, or other elements not actually appearing in the mark image, the applicant will be required to amend the description of the mark.
Trademark protection lasts for five years from the date of filing. Trademarks can be renewed for subsequent five year intervals beginning from six months prior to expiration until the day of expiration.
The filing fee for the application is $20.00 per Class entered in number 10 of the application. If there is only one (1) class indicated the fee is $20.00. If there are two (2) classes indicated, the fee is $40.00, etc.
Make check, cashier’s check or money order payable to the Tennessee Secretary of State. Cash is only accepted for walk-in filings.
Pursuant to T.C.A. § 47-25-507, a registered mark is assignable with the good will of the business in which the mark is used, or with that part of the good will of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the mark. An assignment must be made by “instruments in writing duly executed.” An assignment must include within the assignment instrument itself a provision expressly indicating the transfer of “good will” to the assignee.
A separate assignment instrument and application for assignment of trademark or service mark must be submitted for each registered mark; if a mark is registered in more than one class, only one assignment instrument and application need be submitted. A photocopy of the executed assignment instrument may be submitted in lieu of the original assignment instrument if it is certified by any of the parties thereto, or their successors, to be a true and correct copy of the original.
To assign a registered trademark or service mark use the Application for Assignment of Trademark or Service Mark.
To access information on trademarks, use the Trademark/Servicemark Search. This database reflects active trademarks/servicemarks on file with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Both 'Active' and 'Cancelled' marks are searchable.
No. The voter will receive absentee ballots for all regularly scheduled elections for the calendar year in which the request is submitted.
Note that it is the voter’s responsibility to keep the local county election office informed of any changes of address. The ballots will be mailed or e-mailed, depending on the choice of the voter, to the address that is originally submitted to the local county election office until further notice from the voter.
Applications may be received no earlier than January 1 of the year in which the election is to be held unless the election is to be held less than ninety (90) days after January 1 of the calendar year. In that case, the application may be received no earlier than ninety (90) days before the election and no later than seven (7) days before the election.