Legal Definitions - Trademark Trial and Appeals Board

The Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) is a government agency that handles disputes related to trademark ownership, conflicts between trademarks, and the registration of trademarks.

For example, if two companies have similar trademarks and one company believes that the other company is infringing on their trademark, they can file a complaint with the TTAB. The TTAB will then hear both sides of the argument and make a decision on who has the right to use the trademark.

The TTAB also handles cases where a company wants to register a trademark, but the trademark is already being used by another company. In these cases, the TTAB will determine if the trademark is too similar to the existing trademark and if it can be registered.

The TTAB is an important part of protecting intellectual property rights and ensuring that companies can use and protect their trademarks.