Rhode Island § 6-2-4 - Registration and Protection of Trademarks

§ 6-2-4. Certificate of registration.

(a) Upon compliance by the applicant with the requirements of this chapter, the secretary of state shall cause a certificate of registration to be issued and delivered to the applicant.

(b) The certificate of registration shall be issued under the signature of the secretary of state and the seal of the state and it shall show the name and business address and, if a business corporation, non-profit corporation, limited liability partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company, the state of incorporation, or formation, as applicable, of the person claiming ownership of the mark; the date claimed for the first use of the mark anywhere and the date claimed for the first use of the mark in the state; the class of goods or services and a description of the goods or services on which the mark is used; a reproduction of the mark; the registration date; and the term of the registration.

(c) Any certificate of registration issued by the secretary of state under the provisions of this section, or a copy of a certificate of registration duly certified by the secretary, shall be admissible in evidence as competent and sufficient proof of the registration of the mark in any action or judicial proceedings in any court of the state.

(d) Registration of or renewal of a mark provided by this chapter shall be constructive notice of the registrant’s claim of ownership and shall, when introduced in any action, be prima facie evidence of the registrant’s exclusive right to use the registered mark in this state on goods or services specified in the registration subject to any conditions or limitations stated in the registration, but shall not preclude an opposing party from proving any legal or equitable defense or defect that might have been asserted if the mark had not been registered.