Reading the USPTO's statistics regarding its trademark and opposition proceedings filed each quarter may not be a page-turner but it does provide some interesting insight on a few trends: in 2014, trademark oppositions filed with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) increased by 4.4 percent (5,509 filed) from 2013 and trademark cancellations filed increased by 13.8 percent (1,722 filed) from 2013. While the TTAB's total case load decreased (i.e. the number of cases decided in 2014 decreased by 20.6%), its productivity increased insofar as the average total pendency of cases that proceeded to trial was reduced to 165 weeks (from 189 weeks in 2013). This may seem high but is partly due to the fact that cases often suspended due to discovery or settlement negotiations. The average appeal from commencement to completion is approximately 43 weeks. In short, all these numbers reveal that trademark owners are increasingly defending and protecting their valuable trademarks.