Trademark Status
Realtor is a frequently used word in many countries to describe any person or company involved in the real estate trade, regardless of their NAR status or American residence. However, in the United States, the National Association of Realtors in 1949 and 1950 obtained registrations for the words "REALTOR" and "REALTORS" as collective trade marks.
In 2003, Jacob Zimmerman, a student who was not a member of NAR, petitioned the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel the trademarks, on the ground that "REALTOR" and "REALTORS" were generic terms rather than a trademark. On March 31, 2004, the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board denied the petition but left it open for appeal.
Read more about this topic: National Association Of Realtors
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