Specimens are submitted with a trademark application as proof of actual use of a trademark. Choosing the right specimens for your application is critical because the Trademark Examining Attorney uses the specimens to decide whether a mark qualifies as trademark, whether the mark is actually "used" in a trademark sense, whether the mark is too similar to other marks that it cannot be registered, whether the drawing page submitted with the application is appropriate given the specimen submitted, and whether the type of goods or services claimed in the application are in fact those that are sold. Click here for more about specimens.