On Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 2pm Eastern, the USPTO will hold a Public Listening Session regarding one of the remaining portions of the Trademark Modernization Act that has not yet been implemented: the duration of the USPTO’s recognition that an attorney represents an applicant/registrant for purposes of communications regarding the client’s trademark records.  Changes to Duration of Attorney Recognition; Notice of Public Listening Session and Request for Comments, 88 Fed. Reg. 54305 (Aug. 10, 2023) (PDF version) (the “Notice”).

Interested parties had until September 22, 2023 (updated from Sept. 18) to advise the USPTO that they’d like to present at the Listening Session, currently scheduled in the Clara Barton Auditorium at the USPTO on September 26, 2023 between 2pm and 3:30pm EST.  Seating is limited if you’re planning to attend in person, but the session will be simulcast (advanced registration was required by Sept. 22, whether you planned to attend in person or virtually).  Written comments will be accepted through October 6, 2023 through the comment portal. Id. Continue reading …

On May 8, 2023, USPTO Director Kathi Vidal submitted to the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (“TPAC”) the USPTO’s proposed revisions to its trademark prosecution and TTAB fee tables.  The USPTO’s Fee Setting and Adjustment page has been updated to include Director Vidal’s Letter (“Letter”), the full Table of Proposed Fee Adjustments (“Fee Table”), Executive Summary, Background Information and a table comparing Current, Proposed and Unit Costs embedded in trademark fees (“Unit Costs”).  The proposed increases in these trademark fees resulted from the USPTO’s “comprehensive trademark fee review” and were deemed necessary “to increase aggregate revenue and refine certain fees to efficiently finance ongoing operations.” See Letter at 1. Continue reading …