Today the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it was delaying the effective date of the new rule requiring the electronic filing of all trademark documents and the provision of accurate email addresses for purposes of correspondence with the USPTO relating to all applications and registrations. The new effective date will be December 21, 2019.
The USPTO explained that the delay was intended to provide the USPTO with more time to prepare internally for implementation and to allow the public more time to “fully comprehend the nature of, and prepare to comply with, the new requirements before they are effective.” Supplementary Information, Sept. 24, 2019.
For more information about the requirements of the Rule, please note the following:
- Prior post on this topic, “USPTO Published Final Rule Mandating Complete Trademark Electronic Filing,” July 31, 2019.
- USPTO’s Updated Federal Register Notice (identifying the change in effective date), “Changes to the Trademark Rules of Practice To Mandate Electronic Filing,” October 2, 2019 (summary); see also official version as published in the Federal Register.
- Summary of the Final Rule on the Federal Register, and Official Notice of the July 31, 2019 Final Rule.