Changes

Practitioners noted that the Court offered no threshold or guidelines regarding what amount or quality of evidence would need to be presented, and that the PTO would likely issue restrictive guidance based on the ruling.<ref>[https://www.haynesboone.com/alerts/takeaways-from-uspto-v-bookingcom Hayes and Boone LLP - Takeaways from ''USPTO v. Booking.com''], July 10, 2020</ref> Nonetheless, it was also clear that the ruling marked an opportunity for brands:

Practitioners noted that the Court offered no threshold or guidelines regarding what amount or quality of evidence would need to be presented, and that the PTO would likely issue restrictive guidance based on the ruling.<ref>[https://www.haynesboone.com/alerts/takeaways-from-uspto-v-bookingcom Hayes and Boone LLP - Takeaways from ''USPTO v. Booking.com''], July 10, 2020</ref> Nonetheless, it was also clear that the ruling marked an opportunity for brands:

<blockquote>Now is the time for any company with a “.com” name to reassess brand strategy. With the right evidence of acquired distinctiveness, federal trademark protection is available. In fact, the Court’s opinion has already opened the door for a new wave of “.com” marks. As of recent count, nearly 200 “.com” applications have already been filed since the Court’s June 30 opinion.<ref>[https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/perspectives-events/publications/2020/07/domains-as-brands-implications-of-us-patent-and-trademark-office-v-bookingcom-bv Mayer Brown, LLP - Domains as Brands - Implications of ''USPTO v. Booking.com''], July 2020</ref>

<blockquote>Now is the time for any company with a “.com” name to reassess brand strategy. With the right evidence of acquired distinctiveness, federal trademark protection is available. In fact, the Court’s opinion has already opened the door for a new wave of “.com” marks. As of recent count, nearly 200 “.com” applications have already been filed since the Court’s June 30 opinion.<ref>[https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/perspectives-events/publications/2020/07/domains-as-brands-implications-of-us-patent-and-trademark-office-v-bookingcom-bv Mayer Brown, LLP - Domains as Brands - Implications of ''USPTO v. Booking.com''], July 2020</ref></blockquote>

==USPTO Guidance==

==USPTO Guidance==