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HomeBusiness and Professions CodeGeneral ProvisionsCh. 2Art. 9§ 14254 Trademark Registration Legal Actions

§ 14254 Trademark Registration Legal Actions

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 14254 Trademark Registration Legal Actions

Key Takeaways

  • •If you want to cancel a registered trademark or force someone to register one, you have to go to a special court called the superior court.
  • •If you're trying to force registration, the court will only look at the papers already given to the secretary (the person in charge of trademarks).
  • •If you're suing someone who doesn’t live in the state, you can send the legal papers to the secretary, who will pass them on like a middleman.

Example

Imagine you own a small lemonade stand called 'Zesty Lemon,' and someone else registered the same name as a trademark even though they don’t use it. You want to cancel their trademark so you can register it yourself.

You would go to the superior court to ask them to cancel the other person’s trademark. If the other person lives in another state, you can send the court papers to the secretary, who will make sure they get it. The secretary isn’t in trouble—they just help pass along the papers.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 14254 Trademark Registration Legal Actions

(a) Actions to require cancellation of a mark registered pursuant to this chapter or in mandamus to compel registration of a mark pursuant to this chapter shall be brought in the superior court. (b) In an action in mandamus, the proceeding shall be based solely upon the record before the secretary. In an action for cancellation, the secretary shall not be made a party to the proceeding, but shall be notified of the filing of the complaint by the clerk of the court in which it is filed and shall be given the right to intervene in the action. (c) In any action brought against a nonresident registrant, service may be effected upon the secretary as agent for service of the registrant in accordance with the procedures established for service upon nonresident corporations and business entities under Sections 416.10 to 416.40, inclusive, of the Code of Civil Procedure, and Sections 2110, 2111, and 2114 of the Corporations Code. (Repealed and added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 711, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

cancellation of a markmandamus to compel registrationsuperior courtnonresident registrantservice of process

Related Statutes

  • § 10079 Attorney General Legal Services
  • § 14245 Trademark Infringement Penalties
  • § 14247 Famous Mark Dilution Protection
  • § 14250 Counterfeit Mark Enforcement
  • § 14252 Registrant Penal Rights Preservation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 14254.
View Official Source