Trademark opposition deadlines, in plain language.
What the 30-day window is, how it can be extended, and how to check a record yourself.
The 30-day window
When it opens
Before a US application can register, the USPTO publishes the mark in its weekly Official Gazette. The publication date is the start of the opposition period.
How long it lasts
Anyone who believes they would be harmed by the registration has 30 days from the publication date to file an opposition, or a request to extend that time, with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).
Weekends and holidays
If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday in Washington, DC, the filing can be made on the next business day.
What Oppowatch shows
For each published match, the date the initial 30-day window closes and a reminder date 10 days before it. It does not track extensions; check the record for those.
Extensions
A potential opposer can ask the TTAB for more time, but only by filing before the current period runs out. In outline:
First request
Either 30 more days without giving a reason, or 90 more days for good cause.
Second request
After a first 30-day extension, a further 60 days for good cause.
Final request
A last 60 days, only with the applicant’s consent or in extraordinary circumstances.
In total the period cannot run past 180 days from the publication date. A first 30-day request has no USPTO fee; the 90-day, second and final requests do. Rules and fees change; the USPTO TTAB page is the authority.
How to check a record in TSDR
1. Open TSDR
Go to TSDR (Trademark Status and Document Retrieval) at tsdr.uspto.gov. Every row in an Oppowatch report links straight to it.
2. Search the serial number
Choose “US Serial No.” and enter the 8-digit serial number from the report.
3. Read the status
The Status tab shows the current status and the publication date. Any extension request or opposition appears in the prosecution history and in the TTAB proceedings for that serial number.
The fine print
This report lists public USPTO records that look similar to your watched mark, with the dates those records carry. It is information, not legal advice. An application is not an infringement; talk to a trademark attorney before acting. The opposition deadline shown is the initial 30-day window from the publication date; extensions are possible (see the USPTO TTAB page). Check each record yourself via its TSDR link. Source: USPTO. This service is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.
Data: United States Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov), public-domain US government data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.