New Requirement for Foreign Trademark Applicants, Registrants and Parties to TTAB Proceedings

Earlier this month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) quietly announced a new rule pertaining to all trademark applicants, registrants, and parties to trademark proceedings whose permanent legal residence or principal place of business is outside the United States.

Commencing as of August 3, 2019, when the new rule takes effect, foreign-domiciled applicants, registrants, and parties will need to be represented at the PTO by an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the United States. This new requirement extends not only to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings but to all trademark matters before the PTO. Additional information on the new federal trademark law is available on the United States PTO website.

This article is intended only as a general discussion of these issues. It is not considered to be legal advice or relied upon.  If you need assistance with a particular intellectual property matter, Deena R. Merlen would be pleased to consider providing additional details or advice about specific situations.