Recent Developments in Trademark Law 2025

Why Attend?

• Learn about the latest and most important developments in trademark law.
• For trademark novices, the discussion of each new development will include background on how that area of trademark law works.
• For experienced trademark practitioners, essential facets of the latest developments will be discussed along with accompanying best practices for handling them.

Trademark law evolves rapidly. Providing an update on the most important developments in trademark law occurring over the past year, this year’s program will review recent administrative changes at the USPTO, examine a recent United States Supreme Court decision on damages, explore the effects of fraud in trademark filing, and preview some big decisions on the horizon.

For trademark-law novices, within each development, the program will provide background concerning that area of trademark law. For experienced trademark law practitioners, each development will examine the important details of the development and best practices and practice pointers for handling it.

Join us for this essential annual program taught by John Farmer, an intellectual property attorney with more than 30 years of experience in trademark law. Mr. Farmer has taught a yearly update on recent developments in trademark law for Virginia CLE^® for more than 15 years.

Topics will include:

• Recent USPTO administrative developments that affect your practice
• The dangers of joint mark ownership by a group with a recent tale of woe and lessons learned
• The Supreme Court speaks: Seeking trademark infringement damages when the infringer is a family of companies
• Losing mark rights due to genericness: Who has the burden of proof, and when is genericness measured?
• Fraud in trademark filings: When can it destroy a mark registration?
• Remote trademark infringers: When can you act? When must you act?
• Mark registration and registration cancellation procedures: When are you safely across the goal line?
• The Cutting Room Floor: Quick hits on other important developments
• Periscope: Big cases to watch

Registration Deadlines:

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $40 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE^®.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Dietary Restrictions: If you have dietary restrictions and are attending the seminar in person, please email deanna.mcglothlin@vacle.org.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates

MCLE Credit Caveat: The MCLE Board measures credits by the time you spend in attendance. If you enter a seminar late or leave it early, or both, you must reflect those adjustments accurately in the credits you report on your credit reporting form. A code will be given at the end of the seminar, which must be written on your MCLE form.

Private recording of this program is prohibited.

Can’t Attend?

E-mail distance_ed@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program is made available as an online or USB seminar.
E-mail publications@vacle.org to be notified when/if this program’s seminar materials are made available for sale.

Course Schedule

• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

About the Speaker

John B. Farmer, Leading-Edge Law Group, PLC / Richmond

John B. Farmer is a member of the Leading-Edge Law Group, PLC, an intellectual property (“IP”) boutique law firm in Richmond, Virginia. He served as chairman of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He writes a monthly IP and technology law column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

Mr. Farmer is listed in the top rank of Virginia IP attorneys by Chambers USA and listed for IP in Best Lawyers in America.  He is a past chair of the IP Section of the Virginia State Bar. He is a past president of the Greater Richmond Intellectual Property Law Association. 

Mr. Farmer graduated from the University of Virginia and its law school. After graduation from law school, he clerked for the Honorable Donald S. Russell, Judge of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and for the Honorable James C. Cacheris, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.