This comprehensive program was designed to provide new practitioners, as well as others, with a thorough understanding of the basics of preparing and prosecuting trademark applications before the USPTO. The 2009 training schedule included: (a) instructional sessions on Trademarks 101 and Initial Considerations, Developing a Filing Strategy (Parts I and II), The Application Process, Appeals (Ex Parte before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the USPTO), and Overview of International Applications; and (b) “two hands-on workshops taught by skilled and experienced practitioners” on How to Review a Search Report and Prepare an Opinion Letter, and Responding to Office Actions.
We are very pleased to announce that our Trademark Associate Attorney Ray Thomas, Jr. (along with two other private practitioners and three USPTO Supervisory Senior Trademark Examining Attorneys) provided instructions on Responding to Office Actions.
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The current TOPC is comprised of 158 trademark practitioners from around the world. The TOPC “[e]valuates trademark office practices, procedures[,] operations and regulations at the national, regional and international levels; develops and advocates policies to improve such practices, operations and regulations.” The TOPC is an omnibus committee comprised of 8 subcommittees, including the USPTO Subcommittee.
The current USPTO Subcommittee is comprised of 28 trademark practitioners from around the United States. The USPTO Subcommittee “[m]onitor[s] performance of Examining Operations and TTAB and maintain[s] dialogue with and provide[s] feedback to USPTO Officials as may be indicated on [the] same. Maintain[s] dialogue with USPTO managers and examiners with respect to examination practice and procedure. Analyze[s] and repl[ies] to USPTO requests for comment issued concerning examination and TTAB practice. Participate[s] as speakers and recommend[s] topics for INTA-sponsored Roundtables for USPTO trademark examiners. Monitor[s] progress of USPTO technological issues and updates relative to electronic processing of applications and registrations. Keep[s] the INTA membership informed of significant developments in US registration process and procedure through periodic updates in the INTA Bulletin and on the Website.”
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Under its administrative rulemaking authority, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently proposed two revisions and an amendment to the Trademark Rules of Practice (i.e., 37 CFR, Part 2). The proposed rules would require a mark description for all non-standard character applications. The stated reasons for the proposal are that the new rules would allow for more accurate and efficient processes of selecting design codes (i.e., a six digit numerical code assigned to a particular design element) and pseudo-marks (e.g., the literal equivalent of a particular design element). The USPTO has taken the position that the proposed rules would ultimately result in better internal (e.g., Examining Attorneys) and external (i.e., the public) searches of its mark database for likelihood of confusion purposes.
The following is a summary of the current and proposed rules:
(i) As currently written, 37 CFR 2.32 does not require a description for any mark (standard or non-standard characters), in order for an application to be deemed complete. The proposal is to amend the afore-mentioned rule so to add subsection (a)(8). Under the amended rule, a non-standard character application that does not describe the mark would be declared incomplete;
(ii) As currently written, 37 CFR 2.37 generally grants applicants the option of not submitting a description for any mark (standard or non-standard characters), except when the Examining Attorney issues a requirement. The revised version of the afore-mentioned rule would expressly mandate the inclusion of a mark description in all non-standard character applications. Regarding applications for standard character marks, the current rule would remain in force; hence, applicants would still have the choice of not describing the mark, unless required to do so by the Examining Attorney; and
(iii) As currently written, 37 CFR 2.52(b)(5) requires a description of non-standard character marks only when the “. . . drawing cannot adequately depict all significant features of the mark.” The revised version of the afore-mentioned rule would also expressly mandate the inclusion of a mark description in all non-standard character applications.
In closing, if the proposed rules go into effect, we would advise that all non-standard character applications contain a mark description at the time of filing, so to avoid the refusal. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We will be sure to keep you informed on the status of these proposed rules.
