TMEP 611.05: Processing Documents Signed by Someone Other Than the Applicant or the Applicant’s Designated Attorney
October 2017 Edition of the TMEP
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611.05 Processing Documents Signed by Someone Other Than the Applicant or the Applicant’s Designated Attorney
When examining a document filed in connection with a trademark application or registration, the USPTO staff must ensure that all documents are signed by a proper party. See TMEP §611.02.
When it appears that a response to an Office action is signed by an improper party, the USPTO staff must treat the response as incomplete. See TMEP §611.05(a).
When it appears that a document other than a response to an Office action (e.g., a proposed amendment to an application that is not responsive to an Office action, a petition to the Director under 37 C.F.R. §2.146, or an express abandonment) is signed by an improper party, the USPTO will notify the applicant or registrant that no action will be taken on the document, unless the applicant or registrant either: (1) establishes the signatory’s authority; or (2) submits a properly signed document.
See TBMP §106.02 for information about signature of documents filed in Board proceedings.