The term use means the bona fide use of a mark in North Carolina in the ordinary course of trade, and not merely the reservation of a right to a mark. Registrability is covered by 80-2 which closely follows the federal statute. However, there is no provision for a Supplemental Register. It is effective for ten years. The 1991 amendments require applicants to submit a specimen showing use of the mark and a signed affidavit within six months following the expiration of a term of five years from the date of registration or the last renewal of the registration.
Trademarks are renewable for ten years.
Although the statute is silent as to the symbol to denote registration, by custom it is TM. 5. The statute provides for assignments, sets out ground for infringements, etc. It also sets up a classification scheme for categories of goods much like the federal system. The mark has been abandoned. The registrant is not the owner of the mark.