Trade Fair Evidence & Trade Mark Proof
Preserve what you've shown and what you own with evidence that holds up when it matters.
Trade Fair Evidence
A product presentation at a trade fair might qualify as a public disclosure, but proving it years later is a different matter. Photos alone, without a verifiable publication date or supporting evidence and at least one witness statement, rarely hold up when a third party files a patent application for the same technology. With Proofbox, you can transform your trade fair documentation into a tamper-proof, eIDAS-compliant prior art disclosure: immediately, discreetly, and at a fraction of the cost of patent filing.
Document Your Booth and What You Show
Compile the materials that capture your trade fair appearance: photographs of the booth, technical descriptions, product specifications, brochures, or any other materials that were publicly visible or distributed. The more comprehensive the documentation, the stronger the evidentiary foundation.
Prepare Your Disclosure
Structure your materials into a clear, coherent disclosure document. This does not need to meet any formal requirements (like for a patent application). What matters is that the content accurately describes and reflects what was publicly presented and when. Proofbox supports you in preparing a compliant technical disclosure if needed.
Discreetly Establish Prior Art
Upload your disclosure to Proofbox. Upon publication, your document receives a qualified electronic timestamp, is archived in our tamper-proof online archive, and becomes globally accessible as prior art by discreet publication. From this point on, no third party can obtain exclusive patent rights over what you have publicly shown, and you hold a verifiable, court-admissible record to prove it.
Trade Mark Proof
Trademark rights are not static: they must be actively maintained. In most jurisdictions, a registered trademark can be challenged or cancelled if the owner cannot demonstrate genuine commercial use over time. Proof of use might be required at registration, renewal, and in opposition or cancellation proceedings. The burden of proof always falls on you. With Proofbox, you build a tamper-proof, timestamped record of trademark usage that holds up when it matters most — without relying on self-maintained folders or notarized affidavits.
Collect Your Usage Evidence
Gather the materials that document your trademark in active commercial use: product packaging and labels carrying the mark, website screenshots, marketing and advertising materials, sales invoices, trade show assets, and social media content. The broader and more consistent your collection, the stronger your evidentiary position in any proceeding.
Compile Your Disclosure Document
Structure your usage evidence into a clear, organized disclosure. This document captures what the mark looks like, where and how it is used, and (most critically) when. Proofbox supports you in preparing a compliant disclosure that reflects the full scope of your commercial use across relevant markets and channels.
Publish and Seal with Proofbox
Upload your disclosure as a PDF. Your document is immediately timestamped, digitally signed, and archived in our tamper-proof online archive. The resulting record is independently verifiable and directly addresses the evidentiary requirements of trademark offices. Whether you face a non-use revocation claim, a renewal filing, or an opposition proceeding, your record via Proofbox provides the documentary evidence.