BitLaw

Chapter 300: Filing and Receipt of Documents

301: Filing Documents

301.01: Electronic Filing Is Mandatory

301.01(a): Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS)

301.01(b): TEAS Availability

301.02: Limited Exceptions for Paper Submissions

301.02(a): Treaty-exempt Filers under International Agreements

301.02(b): Specimens for Scent, Flavor, or Similar Non-Traditional Marks

301.02(c): Petition to Accept a Paper Submission

301.02(d): Postal Service Interruption or Emergency

301.02(e): Applications Filed under Trademark Action Section 66(a)

301.02(f): "Grandfathered" Applications and Post-Registration Maintenance Documents

302: Trademark Correspondence - In General

302.01: Duplicate Documents Should Not Be Filed

302.02: Identifying the Type of Document Filed

302.02(a): Correspondence Pertaining to Trademark Applications

302.02(b): Correspondence Pertaining to Trademark Registrations

303: Filing Date of Trademark Correspondence

303.01: Filing Date for Electronic Submissions

303.02: Acknowledgment of Receipt by USPTO

303.02(a): TEAS "Success" Page

303.02(b): Permitted Paper Filings: USPTO "Mail Room Date" Label Showing Receipt

303.02(c): Permitted Paper Filings: Filer-provided Postcard Receipt

304: Email

304.01: Informal Communication Acceptable via Email

304.02: Formal Communications Not Acceptable via Email

304.03: Official Email Correspondence from the USPTO

305: Permitted Paper Filings: Mailing Documents to the USPTO

305.01: Mailing Addresses

305.02: Certificate of Mailing Procedure

305.02(a): When Certificate of Mailing Procedure May Be Used

305.02(b): Mailing Requirements

305.02(c): Location and Form of Certificate

305.02(d): Wording of Certificate of Mailing

305.02(e): Effect of Certificate of Mailing

305.02(f): Correspondence Mailed Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §2.197 but Not Received by USPTO

305.02(g): Correspondence Deposited as First-class Mail Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §2.197 and Returned by the U.S. Postal Service

305.02(h): Certificate of Mailing Requirements Strictly Enforced

305.03: Priority Mail Express®

305.03(a): Filing Date When Priority Mail Express® Is Used

305.03(b): Discrepancy between Filing Date and "Date Accepted"

305.03(c): Incorrectly Entered "Date Accepted"

305.03(d): Correspondence Not Received by the USPTO

305.03(e): Certificate of Mailing under 37 C.F.R. §2.197 for Documents Sent by Priority Mail Express®

305.04: Interruptions in U.S. Postal Service

306: Facsimile (Fax) Submissions

307: Hand Delivery

308: Period Ending on Saturday, Sunday, or Federal Holiday

309: Unscheduled Closings of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

310: Computing Period for Response to Office Action or Notice