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Trademark Citation Watch

Track new trademark applications that cite your marks

When an examiner finds a new application similar to your mark, they cite your mark in the examination report. That report goes to the applicant, not to you. MarkSimpl lists these applications with the report and the days left to oppose.

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How it works

  1. Step 1

    A similar mark is filed

    Someone applies for a trademark close to yours.

  2. Step 2

    The examiner cites your mark

    Their examination report names your mark as a conflicting earlier mark. MarkSimpl matches it to your portfolio and lists it under Citations.

  3. Step 3

    You take action

    Tell the client, write to the applicant, or get the opposition ready before the mark is advertised.

Citation watch vs journal watch

Citation watch shows a conflicting application at examination. Journal watch shows it when it is advertised, which is usually later.

  1. Application filed

  2. Examination report

    Citation watch shows it

  3. Advertised in the journal

    Journal watch shows it

  4. Opposition deadline

    4 months after advertisement

How journal watch works

What you see for each citation

Matched to your portfolio

Marks cited in examination reports are matched to the marks you track in MarkSimpl.

Both marks in one row

Word mark, logo, class, status and owner of your mark and of the new application.

The examination report

Open the report the citation comes from and read the examiner's objection.

Days left to oppose

Once the application is advertised, the row counts down the 4 months. A filter shows the ones still open.

Citation watch FAQs

An earlier trademark that the examiner finds similar to the application being examined. It is listed in the examination report as the reason for an objection under Section 11 of the Trade Marks Act.

No. The applicant can reply or attend a hearing and may still be accepted, which is why it helps to follow its status.

After it is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal. The opposition period is four months from advertisement and can't be extended.

The marks in your MarkSimpl portfolio. Each trademark's page also lists the marks its own examination reports cite (Cited Marks) and the applications that cite it (Cited In).

Track applications that cite your marks

Citations is part of TM Watch in Trademark Manager.

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