Structuring Trademark Clearance Opinions
Assessing Search Results to Identify Infringements, Overcoming Clearance Challenges, Preparing Opinions to Reduce Legal Risks

Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
Intermediate
- work Practice Area
Trademark and Copyright
- event Date
Thursday, August 10, 2023
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
-
This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
This CLE course will guide trademark counsel on conducting, analyzing, and using trademark searches. The panel will discuss overcoming the challenges in the trademark clearance process and outline best practices for preparing clearance opinions.
Faculty

Ms. Kochian advises clients on a range of intellectual property matters related to brand protection in the U.S. Her practice focuses on trademark searching, clearance, filing, prosecution, and portfolio management, as well as design patent prosecution.

Mr. Weseman helps brands by applying his knowledge of trademark law, enhanced by years of experience, to complex trademark problems and communicating advice to clients simply, in plain language, with a focus on business outcomes.
Description
Before a business adopts a mark, counsel must understand all potential infringement risks. In-house and outside counsel rely on trademark clearance searches to identify those risks. Many courts recognize reliance on trademark searches and counsel's clearance opinions as a defense to infringement claims.
Counsel must carefully analyze the results of the clearance search and assess the risk posed by using the proposed mark. Millions of dollars may ride on the analysis and decide how to proceed based on the clearance opinion.
However, the assertion of the advice-of-counsel defense may put the privilege waiver at risk. Companies and counsel should consider whether to obtain a formal written clearance opinion. If yes, the circumstances will shape what to include in the opinion letter.
Listen as our authoritative panel of trademark attorneys examines the analysis and use of the clearance report, reviews the challenges in trademark clearance, outlines steps to overcome the obstacles, and offers best practices for clearance opinions.
Outline
- Analysis and use of search reports
- Clearance challenges and steps to overcome them
- Best practices for preparing clearance opinions
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What factors should counsel consider when analyzing a clearance report?
- What strategies can counsel use to overcome the challenges posed by the trademark clearance process?
- What should be included in a trademark opinion letter?
- How can counsel protect client confidentiality when asserting an advice-of-counsel defense?
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