The Trademark Information Network

Awhile back the USPTO launched a media component to their trademark page, namely, the Trademark Information Network. From this page you can watch a number of different videos that discuss the basics of trademarks and all the way up to post-registration issues.

Have you watched any? What did you think?

I'll devote some posts to watching these videos & provide a critique/reaction to each one.

Ch-Ch-Changes Coming to the USPTO Filing System

Starting November 19th, the USPTO is instituting several changes to their TEAS or Trademark Electronic Application System. Nothing too major really. Here are some highlights:

1) "Applicants will have the opportunity to list multiple email addresses" -- there can only be one primary email and any others are to be considered "courtesy emails."

2) "Sound/motion/multimedia files (.wav, .wmv, .wma, .mp3, .mpg, or .avi formats, not exceeding 5 MB in size for audio files and 30 MB for video files) may be filed directly as part of the form" -- this is going to apply for new applications only.

3) There will be a new voluntary amendment form available for "dba" applicants to ensure that section is filled out correctly.

4) "Links for Trademark Information Network “how-to” videos incorporated into appropriate sections of the forms (e.g., at applicant section, drawing section, goods/services section)."

The last point, actually, makes me a bit concerned in that this may provide people a false sense of security when it comes to filing trademarks. There are just so many variables for each and every application that generalized instructions may lull folks into a false sense of complacency. I'll take a look at these videos once they launch and write up reviews for our TradeMark Express blog readers.

Here's the entire press release. Any other changes stand out to you?

Steve Jobs Exhibit at the USPTO

The USPTO has decided to pay tribute to the late Steve Jobs with an exhibit highlighting the Apple innovator's patents and trademarks. Here is part of the press release:

"In tribute to the tremendous influence of Steve Jobs, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will showcase The Patents and Trademarks of Steve Jobs: Art and Technology that Changed the World. The free exhibit will open to the public on November 16 at the USPTO’s campus in Alexandria, Virginia.

“This exhibit commemorates the far-reaching impact of Steve Jobs’ entrepreneurship and innovation on our daily lives,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos. “His patents and trademarks provide a striking example of the importance intellectual property plays in the global marketplace.”

Located in the atrium of the Madison Building, the exhibit features more than 300 of the patents that bear the name of the iconic innovator along with many of the trademarks that have given Apple its instantly recognizable identity around the world...

The Jobs exhibit, which runs through January 15, 2012, is free and open to the public, as is the National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum."

Unsolicited Trademark Mailings: A Warning from INTA

When TradeMark Express started preparing and submitting Federal trademark applications for clients, we heard almost immediately about official-looking mailings they received requesting more money to either monitor their mark or to be listed in a "trademark registration directory." These unsolicited offers are in no way affiliated with the USPTO and therefore, do NOT require a response.

The appearance of these mailings is the first foot in the door of confusion. They often come on very official looking stationery; an invoice that looks very governmental in form and/or appears to be affiliated with a governmental entity.

Take a look at one of the examples INTA provides on their web site from the United States Trademark Protection Agency (USTPA – see what they did there?): PDF format - USTPA Example Mailing.

The only mailings any trademark owner should most definitely respond to are going to be those directly from the US Patent & Trademark Office. Also, any official USPTO email is going to come from addresses ending in uspto.gov

If you've received a mailing you're not sure about, please contact any of our offices for guidance.

Read the International Trademark Association's (INTA) full article here. A listing they identified of some of the companies who send out unsolicited mailings is also provided within the article.

US Patent & Trademark Office: Navigating the Web Site

Anyone that's had to slog through a governmental web site knows how confusing it can be at times. That being said, let's take a virtual walk together through the web site of the US Patent & Trademark Office.

Start at the home page.

You'll see a headline of sorts along with 3 columns of information. Left hand column are a series of links that drop down to show even more links – more about this to follow. The middle column is the site's top news with various headlines and blurbs. The right hand column are banner links that go to various pages/sites, such as the Department of Commerce, Kids' Pages, jobs at the USPTO, etc.

Left hand column – we're going to concentrate on 2 of the 13 available links.

Click on Patents – a drop down should open with a series of numbered links.

Let's take a look at a few a bit closer:

The very first link, not numbered, Patents main page takes you to the hub of the US patent universe. This is the main page where you can access all of the other related patent links.

Link #1 About Patents takes you right back to that main page, which is confusing. Ignore that. Instead from the main page, click on Basic Facts About Patents. This will give you a good idea of what a patent actually is.

Link #5 Search Patents takes you to the USPTO Patent Search page. From here you can search issued or published applications.

Link #6 File Online in EFS-Web takes you to the Patent Electronic Business Center. From here you can also search patents as well as file a patent application.

Back to the home page.

Link #1 Where Do I Start? is a great place to start. This page provides a pretty thorough road map of the trademark process.

Link #3 Search TM database takes you to the Trademark Electronic Search System. From here you can do a preliminary check of the Federal trademarks.

Link #4 File Online Forms goes to the Trademark Electronic Application System where you'd file a trademark application electronically.

Link #5 Check Status is the page every trademark owner should bookmark. This is where you can check your status using your Serial Number.

Link #6 View Full Files allows you to view all the associated documents with many of the Federal trademark filings. For instance, you can view your application or specimens. Also, if you receive an Office Action, a copy will be available here.

And there's a brief walk through of the most important patent and trademark links on the US Patent and Trademark Office web site. There are many more of course but the ones detailed above are those that will be most helpful to those starting the patent and trademark processes.