An Office Action is an official letter issued by the trademark examiner at the trademark office (such as the USPTO in the United States) after a trademark application has been reviewed. It typically outlines legal issues, objections, or requirements that must be addressed before the application can proceed toward approval. Office Actions are commonly sent if the examiner finds a conflict with an existing trademark, identifies issues with the description of goods/services, or needs clarification on certain aspects of the application. They are usually issued within 3 to 6 months after the initial filing date, depending on the backlog at the trademark office. If an applicant receives an Office Action, they are required to respond—usually within six months from the date of issuance in most jurisdictions. Failure to respond within the given timeframe results in the abandonment of the application, meaning the trademark will not be registered and the applicant would need to start the process again, potentially losing time, money, and priority. Therefore, responding promptly and accurately to an Office Action is critical to successfully securing trademark protection.