T.M.E.P. § 304.01
Communications Acceptable Via Electronic Mail
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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304.01 Communications Acceptable Via Electronic Mail
Applicants and registrants may use e-mail to respond to a Post Registration or ITU paralegal's Office action, to conduct informal communications regarding a particular application or registration, or to reply or respond to a letter from a petitions attorney or paralegal in the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks.
Attachments. The USPTO will accept legible attachments to Internet e-mail in .jpg format. The USPTO will not accept or open attachments in any other format.
Informal Communications. The USPTO accepts informal communications from applicants via e-mail, as an alternative to telephone communications. For example, an applicant may submit via e-mail:
- Questions that do not constitute a response;
- Authorization to issue an examiner's amendment or priority action (see TMEP §§707 , 708.01 and 708.03) ;
- Objection to examiner's amendment (see TMEP §§707 and 707.02) ;
- Notification of termination of cancellation proceeding which is basis for suspension (see TMEP §716.02(a)).
These are just examples and not an exhaustive list of informal communications.
The examining attorney must ensure that all informal e-mail communications are scanned into the electronic record.