The Issue: The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) affirmed a refusal of Serena Williams' application for "SERENA VENTURES" because someone else in Florida had already registered "SERENA" for overlapping financial services.
The Takeaway: The comprehensive federal trademark clearance search is vital to trademark registration.
It’s possible a comprehensive search could have missed the existing registration, but it’s very unlikely. And a refusal based on “likelihood of confusion” apparently cannot be overcome with fame and money alone.
A trademark attorney can help you avoid similar problems in your trademark application. Book your federal trademark consultation with Equinomia Legal here.