When Not to Assign Intent-to-Use Applications

The TTABlog reports on a successful trademark opposition because of an invalid assignment of an intent-to-use application. I mentioned yesterday that U.S. trademarks can be assigned without any tangible assets, but the U.S. trademark system has a carve-out for intent-to-use applications - they can't be assigned without at least part of the ongoing business to which the trademark pertains. The TTABlog tells the story of some New Mexico government agencies who didn't appear to be aware of that.