Posts by harryray
USPTO suspends accounts engaged in foreign sponsorship scam
USPTO suspends accounts engaged in foreign sponsorship scam On September 16, 2022 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued two orders suspending several attorney-sponsored support staff accounts that violated the Trademark Verified Account Agreement and the USPTO Website Terms of Use. Only U.S.-licensed attorneys can sponsor accounts for support staff who are directly…
Read MoreUSPTO adds key executives to leadership team
WASHINGTON – Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Kathi Vidal, along with newly sworn-in Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO Derrick Brent, today announced new staff additions and promotions to the senior team in the…
Read MoreJuly 28 webinar: Quarterly legislation and case law update on IP in China
Register to attend this presentation by senior attorneys from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as they discuss developments during the past three months in intellectual property (IP) law in China. This free one-hour program will provide an opportunity for IP attorneys, businesses, inventors, brand owners, and other IP stakeholders to access a…
Read MoreTrademark Manual of Examining Procedure update
The July 2022 version of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) is now available on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) website. The TMEP updates result in efficiencies for examining attorneys, applicants, registrants, and practitioners because it serves as a primary resource for information about the registration process. This revision includes citations…
Read MoreNew guidance for trademark filers on identity verification and account user roles
On August 6, 2022, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will begin requiring all USPTO.gov account holders to verify their identities as a condition for filing electronic trademark forms. Read our latest Director’s blog for more information. As part of our program, account holders must select a user role when verifying their identities.…
Read MoreTrademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual updated to include new precedents
The June 2022 update of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP) is now available on the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) webpage under “Practice and procedure.” The revision includes precedential citations to legal opinions from the TTAB and the Federal Circuit made between February 28, 2021, and March 4, 2022. The modification…
Read MoreStreamlined help desk experience coming July 1 for petitions customers
In an effort to provide better customer service, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has published a new Petitions web page and will be moving to the Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) as the single point-of-contact for petitions inquiries. Beginning July 1, 2022, the USPTO will route the Petitions Office phone line to the TAC for…
Read MoreTaking It to the Next Level
As the buying group purchasing program becomes firmly established, there are some additional steps that can be taken that will further reduce acquisition costs to its membership.
Read MoreStarting Out
THE FOURTH INSTALMENT OF “HARNESSING THE POWER” At the beginning, the group probably feels like the proverbial mosquito in a nudist colony and wondering, “where do I begin.” A good starting point would be to do an analysis of the purchasing patterns of the group to see where it is. It would be wise to…
Read MoreTaking the Program to the Vendors
THE THIRD INSTALMENT OF “HARNESSING THE POWER” Once a group is poised to deliver its prized purchasing volume to those vendors who are privileged to be selected, it should develop a format to solicit proposals from the vendors. The group should have its own vendor proposal form that it requires each vendor to complete and…
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