What are application maintenance filings?

Application maintenance filings refer to the documents that trademark owners are required to submit periodically to update or maintain the status of their existing trademarks. These filings are important because they demonstrate continued use of the trademark in commerce, confirm that the registration information is accurate, and ensure that the trademark owner retains their rights. This process typically includes submissions like Section 8 and Section 15 affidavits in the U.S., which affirm that the mark is still in use and request acknowledgment of the mark's incontestability, respectively.

The other options do not accurately describe application maintenance filings. New applications pertain to registering new trademarks rather than maintaining existing ones. Inquiries about application status relate to seeking updates on pending applications rather than maintaining registered trademarks. Offers from third parties to buy the trademark involve potential sales transactions and do not relate to the maintenance of the trademark registration itself. Therefore, understanding that maintenance filings are critical in keeping a trademark active and protecting rights confirms that option B is the correct answer.