Tesla’s Trademarks for Robotaxi And Cybercab Are Under Scrutiny

Tesla has submitted trademark applications for the terms “Robotaxi” and “Cybercab.” There are two separate filings for each term: one for the vehicle itself and another for the service it intends to provide with these vehicles.

The USPTO has denied one of the Robotaxi trademarks for the car itself, stating it is “merely descriptive.” The examiner explained that “Robotaxi” is commonly used for similar goods and services, making it appear generic, despite there being no conflicting trademarks.

Tesla received some positive news regarding its trademark application, as the initial refusal is not permanent. The company has three months to respond and present evidence and arguments to support its application. The USPTO has requested that Tesla provide “fact sheets, instruction manuals, brochures, advertisements, and relevant screenshots of the applicant’s website related to the goods and/or services in the application, including any materials that use the terms in the applied-for mark.”

Tesla will also need to tell the USPTO whether competitors are using terms like “robo,” “robot,” or “robotic” to advertise similar goods and/or services.

Tesla’s other application for the term covers the use of the word for the purposes of offering transportation services, and on that one, the USPTO has yet to make a decision. Additionally, Tesla’s applications for the term Cybercab have been halted due to other companies pursuing similar “Cyber” trademarks, including one that has applied for numerous trademarks related to aftermarket accessories for Tesla’s Cybertruck.

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