LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate has unanimously approved Sen. Mark Huizenga’s legislation to update the state’s trademark laws.
“This reform is designed to help Michigan businesses — especially our locally owned small businesses — protect their brand and identity with a smoother, easier and less expensive trademark process,” said Huizenga, R-Walker. “Michigan currently has outdated trademark requirements that the state has used to deny applications that would normally have been approved in other states. My bill would simplify the process in our state by putting our trademark law in line with the rest of the country.”
Senate Bill 1035 would amend Michigan’s trademark statute to update and clarify the definition of the term “trademark.” It removes the prohibition on trademarking a trade name in its entirety.
“There has been some inconsistency in the state approval of trademarks that include the name of the business seeking the trademark,” Huizenga said. “For example, if Sample Business, LLC applied to trademark Sample Business, there is currently no consistency on whether it would be approved or denied.”
SB 1035 has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
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