Help improve DOCX application submissions

As a part of the eCommerce Modernization effort (eMod), you are now able to file new utility applications in the structured text format, DOCX. As we continue to make improvements to our systems, we invite you to participate in a brief survey to provide your input on this change. 

Take the survey here. 

Your feedback is valuable to us and your participation shapes the future of our systems at the USPTO. Please respond by September 6.

More information is available on the DOCX webpage.

PTAB “Boardside Chat” Webinar

The next USPTO "Boardside Chat" will be on Thursday, August 22, 2019, from 12 noon to 1 pm Eastern Time. The topic will be about hearings, including both appeal and AIA hearings.

To connect to the chat, please visit: PTAB Boardside Chat Webinar

U.S. lawyers: Beware of unauthorized withdrawal and revocation of attorney forms

What’s happening Bad actors are making unauthorized changes to attorney information using Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) withdrawal and revocation of attorney forms by:

• Signing the attorney of record’s name
• Resetting the correspondence address to the applicant’s address in the initial application
• Replacing the primary correspondence email address with the bad actor’s email address or deleting the email address

What we’ll do When we receive a request to change the primary email correspondence address of record, we’ll send an email to the prior primary email correspondence address to alert the attorney. Look for an email message from TEAS@uspto.gov with the subject line "Alert USPTO Change of Email Address" notifying you of changes to the primary email correspondence address in your cases.

What you should do

• Monitor your cases for unauthorized changes
• Turn on email notifications for your MyUSPTO.gov trademark docket
• Report unauthorized changes using these instructions

Keep contact info updated Bad actors appear primarily to be targeting registrations that don’t include a correspondence email address. You won’t receive a change of address alert if you don’t have a correspondence email address on record. Avoid this problem by ensuring that your registrations contain current contact information.

Future plansWe’re implementing a login requirement this fall to combat this problem.

Free seminar on trending issues in trade secrets

Register now to attend the September 19 USPTO program, “Trending Issues in Trade Secrets: 2019.”

This free, day-long seminar will feature informative presentations by leading government, judicial, and industry experts in the field of trade secret protection.

The program will also be available for viewing remotely via LiveStream. See the registration page for more details.

USPTO wants your feedback to help us enhance our services

USPTO is seeking volunteers to provide feedback as we enhance our customer experience. Sharing your opinion will inform and strengthen our efforts to provide consistent, clear, and intuitive services to trademark customers.

Sign up to share your opinion as we make improvements. We’ll contact you for feedback on our website, online systems, communication materials, and other trademark services.

Attend the Patent Public Advisory Committee quarterly meeting

The next Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) quarterly meeting is on Thursday, August 8. You can watch online or attend in person at our headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.

Learn more about the PPAC quarterly meeting, including the agenda and how to access the meeting online.

Trademark rule requiring foreign-domiciled applicants and registrants to have a U.S.-licensed attorney now in effect

If you are a foreign-domiciled trademark applicant, registrant, or party to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, in all U.S. trademark matters you must now be represented by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the United States. This includes Canadian applicants, registrants, and parties.

In addition to this change, U.S.-licensed attorneys representing anyone before the USPTO in trademark matters are now required to confirm they are an active member in good standing of their bar and to provide their bar membership information.

Learn more about this federal trademark law change.

New exam guide on U.S.-licensed attorney requirement

We have a new exam guide, "Requirement of U.S.-Licensed Attorney for Foreign Trademark Applicants and Registrants." It explains examination procedures in light of these new requirements. You can direct questions about the guide to TMPolicy@uspto.gov.

New rule requires electronic filing for trademark submissions

The USPTO has published a new rule in the Federal Register requiring electronic filing for trademark submissions.

This rule becomes effective on October 5.

Trademark applicants and registrants will be required to file online using the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Applicants and registrants will need to provide and maintain an accurate email address for receiving correspondence from the USPTO.

Paper and fax submissions will no longer be accepted. Email submissions will continue to not be accepted.

To learn more about this federal trademark law change, please visit the USPTO website.