Trademark Law Updates | New Statutes, Regulations and Rules

November 24, 2008

Amendments to Trademark Rules of Practice to Take Effect on January 16, 2009

Miscellaneous Changes to Trademark Rules of Practice
37 CFR Parts 2, 3, 6 and 7, Docket No. PTO–T–2005–0018, RIN 0651–AB89, 11/17/2008

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (‘‘USPTO’’) is amending the Trademark Rules of Practice to clarify certain requirements for applications, intent to use documents, amendments to classification, requests to divide, and Post Registration practice; to modernize the language of the rules; and to make other miscellaneous changes. For the most part, the rule changes are intended to codify existing practice, as set forth in the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (‘‘TMEP’’). This rule will take effect on January 16, 2009.

Among several revisions in existing rules, the USPTO is amending § 2.21(a) to require that an application under section 1…