T.M.E.P. § 1805
General Inquiries from the Public
Executive summary:
This document contains one section of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (the "TMEP"), Fourth Edition (April 2005). This page was last updated in June 2007. You may return to one either the section index, or to the key word index. If you wish to search the TMEP, simply use the search box that appears on the bottom of every page of BitLaw--be sure to restrict your search to the TMEP in the pop-up list.
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1805 General Inquiries from the Public
USPTO employees will gladly answer questions about the procedures for obtaining and maintaining a registration. For general information, callers may telephone the Trademark Assistance Center at (571) 272-9250 or (800) 786-9199. See TMEP §108.02.
However, USPTO employees cannot:
- comment on the validity of registered marks (see TMEP §1801) ;
- provide a legal opinion on whether a particular mark or type of mark is eligible for registration; or
- offer legal advice or opinions about common law rights in a mark, state registrations, or trademark infringement claims.
For a legal opinion about a trademark matter, a party must consult a private trademark attorney. The USPTO cannot aid in the selection of an attorney. 37 C.F.R. 2.11. Private trademark attorneys are general listed in the yellow pages under the heading "Lawyers, Patent and Trademark," or "Lawyers, Trademark."
See TMEP §104 regarding trademark searches.
See TMEP §1806 regarding contacts with third parties about ex parte matters.