Practice.

The Law Office of Carrie Hedayati is a dedicated intellectual property law practice focused on trademarks and related matters. In the US, we have a ‘first to use’ system whereby it’s possible to obtain common law trademark rights simply through use. This is different from many other countries in the world where the entity or person who is ‘first to file’, with or without use, is generally afford trademark rights. However, there are many benefits to obtaining registration of your trademark. A federal, state or foreign trademark registration will aid you in protecting your brand name or image where you do business. Protection of your brand or mark is essential to preserve your reputation with customers and prevent competitors from cashing in on the recognition you've worked hard to create.

Ownership and enforcement of the rights related to your trademark will give you the opportunity to decide if, and when, others may use your brand or creation, and under what terms. Proper monitoring and portfolio management will enable you to protect your investment and keep an eye on what others are doing that may be impactful to your brand.

Information, not legal advice.

We utilize several government and non-governmental intellectual property offices and organizations both to execute work on behalf of clients and also to stay current on developments and emerging issues. Several of them have resources that can be helpful to clients to expand their understanding of legal processes and rights.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

The U.S. Copyright Office

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The International Trademark Association (INTA)

Information contained in trademark filings becomes part of the public record. Unfortunately, this means that information can be used by scammers who may attempt to impersonate governmental organizations or employees. You can read more about some of these scams and how to protect yourself below. If you are our client, we’re always happy to review an ‘official’ looking document or request if you have questions. If you’re not yet our client, that might be a good reason to become one.

Recordal, Renewal or Filing firms

Spoofed calls that impersonate the USPTO

Use extreme caution if buying registered trademarks from online auctions

Mathilde's presenting a webinar with @altlegal! She'll be taking a deep dive into the art of effective communication in international trademark law! As trademark attorneys, navigating foreign jurisdictions requires more than legal prowess—it demands seamless communication. Join Mathilde in this webinar where she unpacks essential strategies to optimize interactions with foreign counsels. Learn how to: ✨ Build robust relationships with foreign counsels ✨ Streamline communication for smooth trademark processes ✨ Ensure transparent cost management to prevent surprises ✨ Uphold ethical standards in every exchange Whether you're new to international trademark law or looking to refine your approach, don’t miss out! #TrademarkLaw #GlobalCommunication #WebinarAlert #cooperation #webinar #ip #trademarks #attorneys

🇺🇸 Holiday Closure Notice 🇺🇸 In observance of Independence Day, the Law Office of Carrie Hedayati will be closed Thursday, July 4th. We will resume our regular hours Friday, July 5th. Did you know that while the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, it then needed to be ‘engrossed’* onto parchment and delegates only began signing on August 2, 1776? Wishing everyone a safe and joyous 4th of July! *Fun fact: Engrossing is the process of copying an official document in a large hand. 🤓 #independenceday #4thofjuly #nationalarchives #ip

Last week Carrie & Mathilde were invited to join long-time client Nextivity in celebrating the opening of the new Customer Experience Center at their global headquarters in San Diego. The multipurpose space – featuring live product installations – is designed to both showcase Nextivitiy’s capabilities and serve as a hands-on education center for customers, partners, and the telecom community. While at the Nextivity HQ, Carrie & Mathilde had the chance to see Nextivity products in action, learn even more about the business from installation partners, and admire the wall of patents protecting innovative Nextivity technologies (with a cameo by some of the Nextivity trademarks). #trademarktuesday #nextivity

Huge & heartfelt congratulations to our law clerk, Katie Falbo, on her acceptance to law school! Katie will be leaving us to attend the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law this fall. We know she’ll achieve great things and make us proud. Best of luck, Katie!🎉🎉🎉🎉🤓🎉🎉🎉🎉 #pacificproud #mcgeorgecommunity #lawschool

Thank you Atlanta & @INTAglobal for another great annual meeting. MLK Jr & Corretta Scott King were not just present in the geography, but also in the learnings about brand architecture and creative approaches to protecting a legacy & movement with strong IP. So great to see familiar faces in the trademark and brand protection community and make new connections. These relationships are not only the best part of the conferences for us, but also translate into the ability to provide better service to our clients. #inta2024 #inta2024atlanta #intaglobal #trademarktuesday #intellectualproperty #trademark #brandprotection #unrealcampaign #morningmiles☀️

Gearing Up for #INTA2024 🌍 Heading to Atlanta soon for the International Trademark Association’s Annual Meeting! This premier event brings together IP professionals from around the globe to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the world of trademarks. Over the next week, I’ll be attending insightful sessions, networking with other industry leaders, and soaking up all the knowledge this incredible conference has to offer. I’m especially looking forward to the Keynote given by Dr. Bernice A. King! 📚✈️ #inta2024 #inta2024atlanta #intaglobal #trademarktuesday #intellectualproperty #uspto #trademarks #brandprotection

Last month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposed significant changes to trademark fees and applications for fiscal year 2025. The proposed rules include the creation of new fees for missing details in applications, increases to the majority of filing fees, and the re-structure of trademark application options. The changes aim to provide resources to enable high-quality and timely trademark examination & review proceedings, as well as fund initiatives to declutter the trademark register & address fraud. The draft rules are open for public comment until May 28, 2024. More information on the proposed changes can be found by contacting our office or by checking out the link in our bio image credit: AlonzoDesign #trademarktuesday #intellectualproperty #uspto #trademarks

Scams utilizing the public information included in trademark filings have been around for A LONG TIME. In the past few months, the scammers have been getting even bolder with phone scams impersonating USPTO examiners and employees using phone numbers similar to or spoofing actual USPTO numbers. Here are some tips to remember: ▫️The USPTO will NOT call you to request payment. Payment is made through their secure online portal. ▫️Most USPTO employees work remotely so there should not be background noise like a call center in the background, nor should there be a delay when you answer ▫️If we are your attorney of record, they will call us.

Last week, I had the privilege of attending back-to-back events in NYC presented by Alt Legal & Corsearch, and INTA, which both centered around the adoption of machine learning tools to generate creative content by clients, and as a means of increasing efficiency in providing legal services. Outside of the sessions, mostly over fantastic meals, I engaged in great conversations with clients, colleagues, and met a lot of wonderful people. So, the real takeaway is we need more trips to NYC! #trademarks #trademarktuesday #intellectualproperty #attorney #ai #womeninlaw⚖️ #inta #intany2024 @altlegal @intaglobal

This March, we honor the incredible achievements of women past and present. From pioneering legal minds to fearless leaders, their impact inspires us every day. Join us in celebrating #womenshistorymonth and advancing equality in law. Here’s to strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them 💼💪 #womeninlaw #womenshistorymonth #equalityinlaw #trademarktuesday #Trademark #intellectualproperty

Got your heart set on a special mark? Perform a quick search with an online search engine and the #USPTO’s new search tool to check for availability! Don’t know how to use it? The USPTO has webinars on February 14 (http://tinyurl.com/2wppxdw7) to help you become conversant in the love language of trademark searching. Then, get in touch with us to help make your trademark dreams come true by performing more in-depth searching and analysis. Have other plans on Valentine’s day? Find another USPTO training that works for you here: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events #trademarktuesday #Trademark #IntellectualProperty #valentinesday #hearts #brands Image Credit: Alla Savkina

Our 2023 year in review: we had 75+ US searches completed, 170+ filings with the USPTO, 400+ watch notices reviewed, 155+ client calls and meetings, and more than 100 hours of continuing education, in addition to all the work we did with our great colleagues outside the U.S.! Oh, and in the midst of it all, we welcomed 1 new baby, 1 new puppy, and mastered 1 new USPTO search system! #alwayslearning #yearinreview #trademarks #IP Art Credit: bgbluein

Happy Holidays from everyone at the Law Office of Carrie Hedayati! Thank you for a wonderful year. We appreciate all of our clients, colleagues, families, and friends. Please note that our office will be closed for winter holidays from December 22, 2023 through January 2, 2024 #happyholidays #seasonsgreetings #trademarktuesday #trademark #intellectualproperty

@uspto is transitioning to a new cloud-based trademark search system, bidding farewell to TESS on November 30, 2023. We've spent the past few months learning the new system and have high hopes for greater stability, usability and advanced functionalities. #RIPTESS

We've closed the book on the 2023 International Trademark Association Leadership meeting in Houston, Texas! ✅Carrie & Mathilde reinforced strong relationships with attorneys they collaborate with. ✅ Carrie participated in the Leadership Bootcamp on Crisis Management. ✅Mathilde participated in a reception & meeting for INTA Rising Stars. ✅They each attended their committee meetings to engage in project work for the upcoming year. ✅They met with attorneys from approximately 17 countries. And,✅ attended educational sessions on Diversity Equity & Inclusion as well as Use & Treatment of Data, and the growth and community building of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority

🌟 Huge Congratulations to Mathilde for being recognized as a Rising Star by the International Trademark Association🌟 In the inaugural class of Rising Stars, Mathilde is included with a select group of 50 peers from around the world with the purpose of discovering and promoting future leaders. This honor underscores Mathilde's dedication and professionalism within the intricate realm of trademark law. Here's to a bright future filled with continued success! #INTA #INTARisingStar #congratulations #trademark #professionalachievement

Carrie ('14 JD) & Mathilde ('18 LLM) recently attended the #CaliforniaWestern reunion at Harbor & Sky in San Diego. The legal community created through #CWSL is a strong and nurturing environment where they first met when Carrie was the supervising attorney for the #USPTO trademark clinic and Mathilde had just completed her LLM. Now, they enjoy staying connected to the school and supporting current students through hosting clinical externs and post bar clerkships #cwslalumni #calwesternschooloflaw

🔸Carrie & Mathilde are both happy to serve a second term on their current respective #INTAglobal committees🔸 #trademarkreporter #trademarktuesday #trademarks #intellectualproperty #IP

We've been exploring how we can utilize Machine Learning to optimize efficiency and enhance accuracy for our clients. Algorithms can assist in swiftly searching through extensive databases, detecting potential infringements, and providing valuable insights. However, we recognize the importance of proceeding with caution. While Machine Learning offers remarkable advancements, it is crucial to maintain human oversight and expertise throughout the journey. The interpretation of trademark laws, understanding of nuances, and complex legal considerations require human judgment and ethical decision-making. 🌐💡⚖️ art credit: mathisworks #Trademarks #IntellectualProperty #AI #machinelearning

Happy 4th of July weekend from the Law Office of Carrie Hedayati 🇺🇸🎆 Please note that our office will be closed until July 5th #IP #intellectualproperty