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Highlights from February 2025 |
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Artist depiction of Ebony and Jet magazines founder John Harold Johnson (center), Johnson's mentor, Harry Pace (left), and Johnson's wife, Eunice Johnson (right). (Illustrations by Jakie Wade/USPTO) |
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The small dreams of a business giant
The comforts of indoor plumbing, transportation that isn’t your feet, the safety of a well-built home. Growing up in a rural, depressed small Southern town, these were the simple wishes of a young man, who, after surviving a natural disaster, would work to make those small dreams a reality.
The building blocks of success, each small accomplishment helped lay the foundation for John Harold Johnson’s greatest feat: Johnson Publishing Company. This media empire, with 108 registered trademarks, was built with the publication of Ebony and Jet, two magazines aimed at instilling pride and confidence among the Black community. The success of these flagship publications played a large role in the American Civil Rights Movement, and it all started with determination, a sense of duty, and a small dream.
Read the full story
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February 27, 2025 - David Gooder, USPTO's former Commissioner for Trademarks, provides remarks at a farewell ceremony honoring his accomplishments and leadership during his five-year term at the agency. (Photo by David Annarino/USPTO) |
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David Gooder to depart USPTO
February 24, 2025
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that Commissioner for Trademarks David Gooder will conclude his five-year term on February 28, 2025. Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations Dan Vavonese will serve as Acting Commissioner for Trademarks until a permanent replacement is selected.
Read the full press release
New multifactor authentication options provide more secure access to USPTO systems
February 18, 2025
As part of our efforts to ensure the security of customer information and our IT systems, we’re moving to more secure multifactor authentication methods to access systems that require logging into a USPTO.gov account. These mechanisms give our customers a more secure way to verify their identity when accessing USPTO system accounts and provide increased protection against phishing attacks that can trick people into providing sensitive information, downloading malware, or being exposed to other forms of cybercrime.
We’re phasing out authentication methods that rely on Short Messaging Service (SMS) text messages and telephony (voice calls) as second factors by May 1, 2025.
Read the full news brief
USPTO launches new Open Data Portal for easy, quick access to data
February 12, 2025
As we modernize our systems and improve customer experience, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched our new Open Data Portal (ODP) on February 12. In our effort to deliver accessible, open data, this site provides easy access to relevant data sets in a user-friendly site that combines several services into one. Whether you’re an experienced researcher, an entrepreneur, or a student, you can quickly access, customize, and extract USPTO data in and from this site.
Read the full news brief
Find all upcoming and past events on our USPTO event page.
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This year’s Super Bowl halftime show features the one and only federal trademark protected
Kendrick Lamar – yes, his name is a registered trademark! It's used for sound recordings and entertainment services, including live musical performances and live musical concerts.
View the original post on Instagram, X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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 From fields to flavor, we’re berry excited to highlight innovators who have discovered thousands of ways to help us enjoy strawberries 🍓
It’s National Strawberry Day! And the patent gazettes are jammed with more than 56,000 patents referencing “strawberry.”
View original post on Instagram
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 #CaptainAmerica's shield isn't just iconic—it's protected by both a patent and a trademark!
@Disney secured its design with U.S. Design Patent D819,750, and @Marvel holds the trademark for the shield logo. Together, they ensure Cap's shield remains exclusive.
View original post on X
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 Trailblazer Anthony Bowen had a long career at the Patent Office. Hired as a laborer, Bowen eventually worked his way up to a position as a clerk, even though he never received formal schooling.
Born into slavery in Maryland in 1809, Bowen was able to purchase his freedom. A civic leader, he is well-known for founding the first YMCA for Black Americans in Washington, D.C., and he was actively involved in the Underground Railroad and ensuring education opportunities in his community.
View original post on Facebook
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 If you don’t record your trademark registration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the ability to seize counterfeit items that can damage your company’s reputation become cumbersome.
Counterfeit products most often come from China, Hong Kong, and India. Vigilant field operations officers from the CBP inspect packages at ports of entry and may contact trademark owners to confirm proper use on goods. They have authority to seize and dispose of goods that violate federal trademark registration.
View original post on LinkedIn
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