Opposition defence / filing
Someone opposed your mark — or someone is squatting on your brand
Opposition happens during the publication window: once your mark passes preliminary examination anyone with prior rights may oppose it — and equally, you have that same window to stop a squatter. Note that under the revised Trademark Law the window has been cut from three months to two, leaving less time to react. Ignoring a defence notice means waiving your right to be heard, and the Office may decide without you.
- Your mark was opposed during publication and you received a defence notice
- A squatter’s filing has entered publication and you need to act within the two-month window
- The opposition cites similarity or bad faith and you need arguments
- You are unsure whether the opposition is strong enough to fight
- Application or registration number of the mark at issue
- The opposition defence notice (if defending)
- Prior-use evidence: contracts, invoices, ad spend, e-commerce pages, trade-show material
- Proof of legal personality (business licence or ID)
- Power of attorney
Run the free tools first — they will tell you whether the problem is prior marks, absolute grounds, or something else.
A consultant checks the mark’s status first, then calls you with an assessment and a quote.
Questions about this service
You waive your right to be heard. The Office decides on the opponent’s submissions alone, and refusal is the usual outcome — which is why the 30-day deadline must be treated as hard.
It depends on the grounds and the evidence. Similarity cases turn on how close the goods and marks are; bad-faith cases turn on proving an agency or business relationship, or prior use with influence. We assess first, then tell you whether it is worth the cost.
Yes, and it is common. Cancellation removes the other side’s rights basis while opposition blocks their filing. Deadlines and evidence requirements differ, so they run on separate tracks.
Typically 12–18 months from filing to decision, longer for complex cases. Evidence can be supplemented in the meantime and we report at each milestone.
You may also need
Copyright registration
A trademark alone leaves gaps — copyright covers them
Cancellation / invalidation
Remove a blocking cited mark, or invalidate a bad-faith registration
Assignment / change / renewal
Change of owner, change of details, keeping it alive
Monitoring and alerts
A two-month window — and notices now go straight to you
Use-evidence retention
Not only against cancellation — the foundation for enforcement and well-known status