Trademark Law Updates | New Statutes, Regulations and Rules

August 18, 2008

USPTO To Implement New Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings and Agency Practice

Changes to Representation of Others Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
37 CFR Parts 1, 2, 7, 10, 11, and 41 (Docket No.: PTO–C–2005–0013) RIN 0651–AB55, 8/14/2008

Starting on September 18, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) will implement new rules governing the conduct of disciplinary investigations, issuance of warnings when closing such investigations, disciplinary proceedings, non-disciplinary transfer to disability inactive status and reinstatement to practice before the USPTO. Part of the new issuances involved a new rule regarding recognition to practice before the USPTO in trademark cases, and a new rule to address a practitioner’s signature and certificate for correspondence filed in the USPTO.These changes will enable the USPTO to better protect the public from practitioners who do not comply with the USPTO’s ethics…