The geographical territory is the territory in which one uses a mark. Use in a territory generally determines the extent of trademark rights granted to the user. The first to use a mark in one region has exclusive rights in the mark for that region, and a junior user of a mark in that region can be forced to cease using the mark there. However, the senior user cannot stop the junior user from using the mark in a different territory as long as the junior user is the first to use the mark in that particular territory. Two notable exceptions to this rule are nationwide priority which is only available to federally registered marks, and the doctrine of natural expansion, which is available to any mark owner.
