USPTO Proposes Amendments to the Trademark Rules of Practice and the Rules of Practice in Madrid Protocol Filings | Practical Law

USPTO Proposes Amendments to the Trademark Rules of Practice and the Rules of Practice in Madrid Protocol Filings | Practical Law

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed changes to the Trademark Rules of Practice and Rules of Practice in Madrid Protocol filings to provide greater clarity on certain requirements.

USPTO Proposes Amendments to the Trademark Rules of Practice and the Rules of Practice in Madrid Protocol Filings

by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
Published on 22 Jan 2014 • USA (National/Federal)
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed changes to the Trademark Rules of Practice and Rules of Practice in Madrid Protocol filings to provide greater clarity on certain requirements.
On January 23, 2014, the USPTO issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking to amend the Trademark Rules of Practice and the Rules of Practice in Filings Pursuant to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) to provide increased clarity on certain requirements relating to:
  • Representation before the USPTO.
  • Applications for registration.
  • Examination procedures.
  • Amendment of applications.
  • Publication and post-publication procedures.
  • Appeals and petitions.
  • Post-registration practices.
  • Correspondence in trademark cases.
  • Classification of goods and services.
  • Procedures under the Madrid Protocol.
(79 FR 3750-01 (January 23, 2014).)
The notice indicates that the proposed rules would codify many of the practices that are already in place.
Interested parties may submit e-mail or written comments no later than April 23, 2014.