USPTO接受COVID-19作为美国商标不使用的正当理由!

Are you a trademark owner with an upcoming deadline for a registration maintenance filing? If COVID-19 has directly impacted you or your business and temporarily prevented you from using your trademark, you may request to be temporarily excused from using your trademark.

如果您是商标所有人，并且您的美国商标注册有效截止期限即将到来，如果COVID-19直接影响了您或您的业务，并暂时阻止了您使用您的商标，您可以请求暂时不使用您的商标。

If you think this applies to you, when you file your section 8 or section 71 declaration, you must provide a statement that includes the following:

如果您认为上述情况适用于您，则在提交第8款或第71款声明（即5-6年使用宣誓）时，必须提供包含以下内容的声明：

An explanation of how COVID-19 has affected you or your business and caused you to temporarily stop using your trademark for the products and services covered by your registration

· The date your trademark was last used

· The steps you're taking to resume use, and

· The approximate date you expect to resume using your trademark.

COVID-19如何影响您或您的业务，并导致您暂时停止将商标用于注册所涵盖的产品和服务上的说明；

商标的最后使用日期；

您为恢复正常使用采取的措施；

您预计恢复商标使用的大概日期。

Examples of Special Circumstances that Do and Do Not Excuse Nonuse

可以或者不可以作为不使用的正当理由的几种示例

In addition to a showing that there is no intention to abandon the mark, the owner must show that nonuse is due to special circumstances beyond the owner's control that excuse nonuse.  The following examples provide general guidelines as to what is considered to be a special circumstance that excuses nonuse:

除了表明无意放弃商标之外，商标所有人还必须证明其不使用是由于超出所有人控制的特殊情况而造成的。以下示例提供了关于什么情况被视为不使用的特殊情况的一般准则：

· Business Decision.   Nonuse related to a business decision is not beyond the owner's control and does not excuse nonuse.

业务决策。 与业务决策相关的不使用并不超出所有人的控制，因此不能作为不使用的理由。

· Decreased Demand.  Decreased demand for the product sold under the mark, resulting in its discontinuance for an indefinite period, does not excuse nonuse.  The purpose of the requirement for an affidavit or declaration of use or excusable nonuse is to eliminate registrations of marks that are not in use due to ordinary changes in social or economic conditions.   

需求减少。该商标下出售产品的需求减少，导致其无限期停产，不能作为不使用的理由。提交宣誓或使用声明或不使用正当理由的目的正是为了消除由于社会或经济状况的一般变化而未使用的商标注册。

· Trade Embargo or Other Circumstance Beyond Owner’s Control.  Nonuse may be considered excusable where the owner of the registration is willing and able to continue use of the mark in commerce, but is unable to do so due to a trade embargo.

交易禁运或超出所有人控制的其他情况。 如果商标所有人愿意并且能够继续在商业中使用该商标，但由于贸易禁运而无法这样做，则可以认为该不使用是正当的。

· Sale of a Business.  Temporary nonuse due to the sale of a business may be considered excusable.

企业收购。 因业务收购而导致的暂时不使用被认为是正当的。

· Retooling.  The mark might be out of use temporarily because of an interruption of production for retooling of a plant or equipment, with production possible again at a scheduled time.  However, nonuse due to retooling is excusable only if the owner shows that the plant or equipment being retooled was essential to the production of the goods and that alternative equipment was unavailable on the market.  

更新设备。 工厂或设备的更新而中断，导致该商标可能暂时无法使用，但可以在计划的时间再次生产的。 但是，仅当所有人说明被重新改造的工厂或设备对商品生产必不可少且市场上没有其他设备时，才可因这个理由而不使用。

· Orders on Hand.  If the product is of a type that cannot be produced quickly or in large numbers (e.g., airplanes), yet there are orders on hand and activity toward filling them, nonuse might be considered excusable.

现有订单。如果产品的类型不能快速生产或大量生产（例如飞机），但手头上已有订单，并且有关于这些产品的活动，那么这种不使用也可被认为是正当的。

· Illness, Fire, and Other Catastrophes.  Illness, fire, and other catastrophes may create situations of temporary nonuse, with the owner being able to outline arrangements and plans for resumption of use.  Such nonuse is often excusable.  However, a mere statement that the owner is ill and cannot conduct his or her business will not in itself excuse nonuse; the owner must show that the business is an operation that could not continue without his or her presence.   

疾病，火灾和其他灾难。 疾病，火灾和其他灾难可能会造成暂时不使用的情况，所有人可以概述恢复使用的安排和计划。 这种不使用通常是正当的。 但是，仅声明拥有人患病且不能从事其业务的陈述并不能成为不使用的正当理由； 所有人必须证明该业务没有他或她的存在就无法继续进行。

· Negotiations with Distributors.  A recitation of efforts to negotiate agreements that would allow for resumption of use of the mark, or a statement that samples of the goods have been shipped to potential distributors, may establish lack of intention to abandon the mark, but does not establish the existence of special circumstances that excuse the nonuse.

与分销商的谈判。 通过谈判协商以允许恢复使用商标，或者声明货物样品已被运送到潜在的分销商，这虽然能说明没有放弃商标的意图，但并不能作为商标不使用的正当理由。

· Use in Foreign Country.  Use of the mark in a foreign country has no bearing on excusable nonuse of a mark in commerce that can be regulated by the United States Congress.  

在国外使用。在外国使用商标与在美国商业中商标的正当不使用无关。

· Use of Mark on Different Goods/Services.  Use of the mark on goods/services other than those recited in the registration does not establish either special circumstances or lack of intention to abandon the mark.  

在不同商品或服务上使用商标。在注册中未提及的商品或服务上使用商标并不构成特殊情况也不能说明申请人没有放弃商标的意图。

· Use of Mark in Another Form.  Use of a mark as an essential part of a materially different composite mark does not excuse the failure to use the mark at issue.

以其他形式使用商标。将商标用作实质不同的复合商标的主要部分，不能作为不使用的正当理由。

If the USPTO determines that the facts set forth do not establish excusable nonuse, the owner may file supplementary evidence or explanation, within the response period set forth in the Office action.  If the affidavit or declaration included a claim of excusable nonuse when filed, no deficiency surcharge will be required for supplementing this claim with additional evidence or an explanation.

如果USPTO认为所有人提交的说明不能证明其不使用的正当性，则其需要在商标主管机关诉讼中规定的答复期内提出补充证据或解释。如果宣誓书或声明在提交时已经声明了不使用的理由，则补充其他证据或解释不额外收费。

New Affidavit or Declaration Claiming Use

重新提交宣誓书或声明来宣称使用

If there is time remaining in the statutory filing period (including the grace period) and the owner responds to the Office action by submitting a new affidavit or declaration with a claim of use, specimen, and filing fee, the USPTO will examine the new affidavit or declaration of use.

如果在法定提交期（包括宽展期）内还有时间，并且所有人通过提交新的宣誓或声明并声明其在使用，提交证据和交费的方式来答复审查意见，USPTO将审查新的宣誓或使用声明。