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Enforcement
Your core trademark got squatted — now what
Squatting isn't a dead end — prior-use evidence, opposition, cancellation, and negotiated assignment often run in parallel.
Finding your core mark squatted in a target country, don't panic and don't rush to buy it back at a high price. First characterize the squatter — competitor, distributor, or professional squatter — as each calls for a different strategy.
Viable paths include opposition or invalidation on prior-use evidence, cancellation for non-use, and negotiated assignment within reason. These often run in parallel rather than as a single choice.
The lesson: most of these reactive situations are avoidable with early filing. Responding to squatting costs far more than registering ahead of time.