Author Name Registrable for Series of Books

In In re First Draft, Inc., Serial No. 76420605 (TTAB September 20, 2005), the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled that an author's name or pseudonym is registrable for a series of books under appropriate circumstance However, it agreed with the PTO that, based on the record evidence, FERN MICHAELS does not function as a trademark for Applicant's goods. "Had Applicant timely submitted certain proofs, the outcome might have been different," notes John Welch at the TTABlog in his insightful analysis of the decision.