The opposition process refers to a legal proceeding that allows third parties to challenge the registration of a trademark. When a trademark application is filed with the relevant trademark office, it undergoes a period of examination to determine if it meets the necessary requirements for registration. During this examination process, other individuals or companies who believe that the proposed trademark would infringe upon their existing rights or that it does not meet the legal requirements for registration can file an opposition.
Opposition proceedings provide an opportunity for third parties to challenge the validity of a trademark registration based on various grounds, such as the mark being too similar to an existing mark or lacking distinctiveness. The opposition is typically filed with the trademark office, and the applicant is given an opportunity to respond to the opposition. The trademark office will then consider the arguments made by both parties and make a decision on whether to grant or refuse the trademark registration.