Friday, February 15, 2019

Proposal to require foreign-domiciled trademark applicants and registrants to use a U.S.-licensed attorney

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a proposal to change federal trademark law  require foreign-domiciled trademark applicants, registrants, and parties to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings to use an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the United States.
The requirement applies to trademark applicants, registrants, and parties whose permanent legal residence or principal place of business is outside the United States. The proposed changes would require these applicants, registrants, and parties to hire an attorney licensed to practice law in the United States to represent them at the USPTO.
In addition to the above proposed change, U.S.-licensed attorneys representing anyone before the USPTO in trademark matters would be required to confirm they are an active member in good standing of their bar and provide their bar membership information.
To learn more about the proposal to change federal trademark law or to submit comments about it, visit our page on the USPTO website. We will accept comments from the public until March 18, 2019.