New examination guide on changes to procedures for certain trademark documents

We issued a new examination guide, “Changes to Procedures Regarding Certain Documents.” It covers new procedures for:

• Requesting duplicate certificates of registration
• Submitting letters of protest

The examination guide also covers changes to our internal procedure for email correspondence that is returned to the USPTO as undeliverable.

You can direct questions about this new guide to TMTMEP@uspto.gov.

September Inventor Info Chat

The next USPTO Inventor Info Chat webinar is Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to noon ET on "Responding to Pre-Examination Notices.”

Learn tips for more effectively responding to Notices of Missing Parts and Notices of Incomplete Application. Please send your questions to inventorinfochat@uspto.gov. One of our patent application processing specialists will answer them during the event.

For more information, including how to register, please visit our InventorInfo Chat - Webinar page on the USPTO website or contact oidevents@uspto.gov.

Authentication change coming for EFS-Web and PAIR

EFS-Web and Private PAIR users will need to use a new, safer, and simpler login beginning this October. The new method will save time by granting access to multiple USPTO systems with one consolidated sign-in and will eliminate shared credentials by providing practitioner and support staff with their own USPTO.gov accounts.

Getting a USPTO.gov account is quick and easy. If you don’t already have a USPTO.gov account, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Create an account page.
2. Enter the email address you will use to sign in, as well as other necessary account information, and follow the prompts.
3. Opt-in to two-step authentication.
4. Once the tools are available, set up migration and sponsorship.

If you use Financial Manager, you already have a USPTO.gov account:

1. Just opt-in to two-step authentication.
2. Once the tools are available, set up migration and sponsorship.

For additional information, please visit Authentication Change for EFS-Web and PAIR.

If you need assistance creating your USPTO.gov account, please call the USPTO Contact Center (UCC) at 800-786-9199. For assistance with migration and sponsorship when the tools are available, please contact the Patent Electronic Business Center at ebc@uspto.gov or 866-217-9197.

Patent Public Advisory Committee Fee Setting Hearing

On Thursday, Sept. 6, the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) will hold a hearing to discuss the latest USPTO proposals to set or adjust patent related fees. The event will be held at the USPTO's main campus and will be webcast.  

Interested members of the public are invited to testify at the PPAC hearing about the proposed patent fee adjustments. Those wishing to present oral testimony at the hearing must submit a request in writing no later than Aug. 31.  

Requests to testify should indicate the following:  

1. The name of the person wishing to testify
2. The person’s contact information (telephone number and email address)
3. The organization(s) the person represents, if any
4. An indication of the amount of time needed for the testimony.  

Requests to testify must be submitted by email to Jennifer.Lo@uspto.gov. Speakers providing testimony at the hearing should submit a written copy of their testimony for inclusion in the record of the proceedings no later than Sept. 13. 

Those wishing to submit written comments on the fee proposal should email them to fee.setting@uspto.gov. The deadline for written comments is Sept. 13.

For more information, including how to attend, please visit our event page on the USPTO website.

USPTO systems status update

The USPTO’s systems continue to be operational. You can file your applications electronically through EFS-Web. For those who filed a patent application by paper between August 15 and August 23 because of the outage, the director will prescribe a procedure that will allow you to seek a refund of the paper filing fee. Once the details of this procedure are ready, we will post that information on our website.

Please view our Systems Status page for all updates on the situation.