The U.S. Trademark code, in verse

Copyright code in verse is here
Patent code in verse is here

This verse is just some
Of United States Code
Fifteen, part twenty-two,
Written down as an ode

This part only deals
With the laws of trade-mark
I write them in poetry
To be less in the dark

It's not cause I'm bored
Or I want to be nice
My transcribing works as
A mnemonic device

You see, I read laws
And I put them to verse
And it helps me remember
For better or worse

My summaries are simplified
As you might well expect
Relying on my poetry would
Be most incorrect

Go read the original
If you want to know more
And have your whole legal
Protection assured

(By the way, if you've time
The rest of fifteen
Is a wild bunch of laws
It's really quite keen)

1051

If you own a mark that's
Really used in commerce
Pay heed to directions
Written down in this verse

You must "own" the trade-mark
(Though it doesn't say how)
And you must promise to use it
Or be using it now

1052

The mark may be neither
Immoral nor deceptive
It must be unique and
Not simply descriptive

1053

Service marks are marks
But do not be nervous
They only imply branding
They don't imply service

1054

And then there are marks -
Like certification -
That serve to mark only
An organization

1055

This section lets you license
Your mark to some company
And let's you control it
Both branding and quality

1056

When registering marks
You may have to forgo
Some part of it, if the
Director says so

1057

You fill out the forms
In duplicate and triplicate
And then you receive
A nice legal certificate

1058

It's good for ten years
Or it's good for six, maybe
Either way, pay the fees
Or goodbye to your baby

1059

An identifying trade-mark's
Life can be extended
Although after ten years, it
Should probably be ended

1060

Trademarks can be transferred
If it's all done in writing
It's nice when done pleasantly
Without any fighting

1061

If swearing is needed
To affirm an acknowledgment
My kids can teach you; they
Swear that they're innocent

1062

Just when your rights are
Secured, it gets better -
Your marks are all published
In many newsletters

1063

If you object to a trade-mark
As many people do
The office is happy to
Take your money, too

1064

A worker may cancel it
If he's had a bad day
A hangover, for instance,
Or his spouse is away

1065

But if no one objects
In the space of five years
Your trade-mark's assured
You can break out the beers

1066

If they made a mistake
And your mark's not unique
The director may apologize
In a manner most meek

1067

In all of these cases
When people have problems
An appeal board gets formed
In order to solve them

1068

In the end, the Director
Simply does what he feels
So invite him to dinner
And cook a nice meal

1069

This section is short but
Here's what the catch is:
It uses strange words like
"Estoppel" and "laches"

1070

You pay registration and
You pay if you fight
So the fact that you pay to
Appeal seems 'bout right

1071

The Federal Circuit then
Handles the appeal
And then the fed judges
Can do what they feel

1072

Remember you register
If you "own" the mark?
Ownership is established
By registering; that's a lark

1091

A supplemental register
May also exist
You don't register supplements
(I checked up on this)

1092

It's a book just for trade-marks
And it's pretty amusing
It's published, but it isn't, which
Can get quite confusing

1093

The certificate for these types of
Listings is different
It's painted on noodles
With twenty-two pigments

1094

Apparently, these marks are
Mostly like real ones
They follow the same rules
With minor exceptions

1095

They aren't unique enough
For all practicality -
If they are, upgrade them to
Full-fledged legality

1096

These marks don't stop imports
But to be quite concise,
I don't get this chapter and
I've read through it twice

1111

To mark something's registered
Put an "R" in a ring
If you fail to, and then sue,
You won't get a thing

1112

The Director establishes a
Classification
In which to file all types
Of mark registration

1113

They charge you for everything
Bring money in jerry-cans
You're only exempt if you're
Native American

1114

You're told you must stop for
Innocent violation
Whether using it in print
Or domain registration

1115

Numerous defenses against
Infringement are granted
None of those listed cover
"Because I wanted"

1116

The court then make noises
It shuffles and snorts
And it tries to make sense
Of a case of this sort

1117

The damages you pay are
Exceedingly high
You can kiss that new Rolls Royce
You wanted goodbye

1118

You may then be forced to
Destroy every item
They'll soak them in gasoline
And then they will light 'em

1119

The court may correct, if
It feels there's an error,
Any trade-mark mistakes in the
Trade-mark book ledger

1120

If you fraudulently trade-marked,
You naughty girl or boy,
You're subject to lawsuits from
Those you've annoyed

1121

The states can make judgments
On cases like this
But they can't force new markings
Or get them dismissed

1122

Federal and state workers
In all types of governments
Are subject to these laws
Regardless of consequence

1123

As usual, the Director can
Make up more laws
Whenever he wants to,
No "if"s or "because"

1124

Don't import goods bearing
Trade-mark violations
They have to stay inside
Their origin nations

1125

Don't misrepresent any
Product or service
Or pretend that you're famous -
Famous people get nervous

1126

We register trade-marks from
All types of nations
But only from those with which
We have relations

1127

For some reason, definitions
Are only placed here
Instead of the beginning
Which would be more clear

1128

A fancy falutin'
Council is formed
To discuss IP issues
And stay well informed

1129

Don't use famous people for
Your internet domain
They've more money than you
And they're often insane

1141

This says that we work with
Other nations, too
And pretty much doesn't say
Anything else new

1141a

You can register trade-marks
In more than one nation
And you only need fill our
A single application

1141b

When checking your claim
The Director is thorough
If it's good, it goes to
The international bureau

1141c

If a trade-mark's abandoned,
Canceled, or expired,
The bureau is notified if
The Director's not tired

1141d

Requests for extensions
Can be made here or there
As long as you've paid up
They really don't care

1141e

Extensions are based on the
Laws of this section
Other laws you read
May just be misdirection

1141f

This whole chapter simply
Just says what we do:
Whatever the international
Court tells us to

1141g

Really, it just goes on
About dates and priority
A pretty dull subject within
Intellectual Property

1141h

When refusing a local mark
We don't have to be nice
When dealing with foreign ones
We tend to think twice

1141i

We'll send the certificates
Any place you're alive
Even to "Under the stairs,
Nine Privet Drive"

1141j

Oh brother, some more boring
Rules are now made
Whomever wrote this section
Was grossly overpaid

1141k

An affidavit is needed
To prove any marking
Is really being used,
There is no Free Parking

1141l

We only will deal with
A person from nations
Who like us and say so -
We need affirmation

1141m

Your five years of usage
Begins with your signing
After which it's incontestable
No tantrums, no whining

1141n

Any rights to a trade-mark
Continue with extensions;
Register with the same name
To avoid all contention


There are other subsections
That may also apply
But this is all the current
Section supplies

The others are references
And simply point here
So I'll just say good night, and
Have sweet dreams, my dear

Yehuda Berlinger


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