What presumptive rights does the C12 Group have due to its registered service marks with the USPTO?
C12_Group Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
C12 CEO Members
ITEM 13: TRADEMARKS
C12 is the owner of certain trademarks, service marks, trade names, logotypes, internet domain names, and other commercial symbols which you will use under license from us through the Franchise Agreement. The C12 Group ® service marks listed below are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"), as Principal Register federal registrations, thereby granting C12 certain presumptive rights.
| TRADEMARK | REGISTRATION NUMBER | DATE OF REGISTRATION | REGISTER | |---|---|---|---| | The C12 Group | 2,720,517 | June 3, 2003 | Principal | | | 4,574,577 | July 29, 2014 | Principal | |---|---|---|---| | | 6,073,903 | June 9, 2020 | Principal | | BUILDING GREAT | 6,254,358 | January 26, 2021 | Principal | | BUSINESSES FOR A | | | | | GREATER PURPOSE | | | | | | 6,966,865 | January 31, 2023 | Principal | | MISSIONPRENEUR | 7,576,028 | November 26, 2024 | Principal | | FORUM | | | | All required affidavits and renewals have been filed.
The C12 Group ® service marks listed below are pending registration with the USPTO, as Principal Register federal registrations, thereby granting C12 certain presumptive rights.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 32–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 C12 Group Franchise Disclosure Document, having service marks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") as Principal Register federal registrations grants C12 Group certain presumptive rights. While the FDD mentions that C12 Group has these presumptive rights, it does not elaborate on what these rights specifically entail. It is important to note that C12 Group also has service marks with pending registrations with the USPTO, which also grant C12 Group certain presumptive rights.
However, the FDD also states that C12 Group does not have a federal registration for two pending trademarks. As a result, these trademarks do not have as many legal benefits and rights as a federally registered trademark. The document indicates that there are ongoing opposition proceedings regarding these two pending trademarks, with the parties working toward a settlement agreement that would allow for the registration of both marks.
As a prospective franchisee, it would be prudent to seek clarification from C12 Group regarding the specific presumptive rights associated with both registered and pending trademarks. Understanding the scope and limitations of these rights is crucial for assessing the value and protection afforded to the brand. Additionally, inquiring about the potential impact of the ongoing opposition proceedings on the pending trademarks is advisable to gauge any potential risks or limitations on trademark usage in the future.