904.04(a)(ii)    Identifying Digitally Created/Altered or Mockup Specimens

Digitally created/altered or mockup specimens range from those that are clearly manipulated to those that are more difficult to identify. The following characteristics or circumstances may indicate a digitally created/altered or mockup specimen.

  • The depiction of the product looks like a digital rendering rather than a real product.
  • The product, label, or packaging is missing information typically included in the trade.
  • The mark appears to float over the product or container.
  • Features of the item disappear near or around the mark.
  • The image includes pixelization around the mark.
  • The mark is not applied to the product in a manner consistent with the material composition of the product.
  • The mark appears on goods known to be marketed under a third-party mark.
  • The website screenshot showing the mark includes placeholder text indicating that the website was not in use.
  • The website screenshot showing the mark is missing important information such as a URL or browser tab, and is displayed in a way that suggests it is not published (e.g., within other software).
  • Identical images are located that display different marks or do not display any marks.
  • Features of the goods suggest that the goods are used while the tag or label to which the mark is applied appears new.
  • The labeling appears to be crudely applied to containers or plain boxes.
  • The mark appears superimposed onto signage or other advertising or marketing materials for services.
  • A web page for an online marketplace, submitted as a display associated with the goods, includes indicia indicating that the mark is not in use in U.S. commerce or was not in use on the dates of use indicated in the application (e.g., language, currency, price, first available date, ship-to destination).

This list is not exhaustive; other characteristics and circumstances not listed above also may indicate a specimen does not show use of the mark in commerce.