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What does it mean that my specimen has to "show a connection between the trademark and the applied-for goods or services"?

Senior Trademark Attorney

It means the specimen must make it clear to the USPTO examiner that the trademark is being used to identify the specific goods or services listed in the application, not just that the mark exists somewhere in commerce.

For goods: the mark should appear on the product itself, its packaging, or a product webpage where the item is available for purchase. A consumer seeing the mark should be able to associate it with those specific goods.

For services: the mark should appear in the context of advertising or delivering the specific services listed. A webpage that displays the mark alongside a description of the services and a way to engage them satisfies this requirement.

A specimen that shows only the mark in isolation; without any visible goods or services context; fails this requirement regardless of how the mark looks.

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