Importance

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Abstract

The present invention comprises a method of documenting first use of a trademark including the steps of posting the trademark in a virtual storefront file accessible over a global information network, retrieving the storefront file, rendering the retrieved storefront file into a storable file format, storing the rendered retrieved storefront file in a memory, and notarizing the rendered retrieved storefront file to document a date and time of first use of the trademark. The invention also includes an apparatus to implement the method. The invention includes the steps of digitally notarizing a web page, web site, or portion of a web site in order to provide proof that the content was present at the web site on a particular date. In particular, an Internet-based advertisement for goods and services which uses a trademark or service mark, or an Internet-based 'virtual storefront' which uses a trademark of service mark, is digitally notarized to provide proof that the trademark or service mark was in use at a given time and in a specific manner.

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First Claim