USPTO trademark news and updates

Here is a variety of recent USPTO-related news and announcements [It is great to see the USPTO communicating with the public more frequently and in more ways]:

• The next Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) meeting will be September 2, 2010. The public can participate in person at the USPTO or via a live web feed.  More details are available here: http://www.uspto.gov/about/advisory/tpac/tpac_meetings.jsp
• The transcript of the last public TPAC meeting, which I blogged about here, has been published online here.
• The USPTO has issued a recent Request for Comments about improving the accuracy of identifications of goods and services in trademark applications and registrations.  Details here.
  • Note: Once of my favored approaches –  requiring additional specimens of use, not for each and every good or service listed, but for those which are in the same class but are quite different (i.e. computer hardware and computer software, both in Class 9) – is not mentioned.
• Follow the USPTO on facebook here.
• Follow USPTO director David Kappos’ blog here.
• Follow an unofficial-but-quite-good USPTO twitter feed here.
• Read about the 2010 National Trademark Expo (Oct. 15 & 16, 2010) here and apply to exhibit here.
• The USPTO “Draft Strategic Plan for FY 2010-2015” has been published here and the public can comment on it through Aug. 2, 2010.
• The USPTO launched a video channel, the Trademark Information Network in March featuring introductory videos about the trademark registration process. More videos are expected to be added soon.
• The trademarks consistency initiative from the USPTO has recently been expanded.  More details here.
• The USPTO has begun publishing an inventor’s newsletter entitled ‘InventorsEye.’  Subscribe here.
• The USPTO recently began making bulk data available for free download in partnership with Google.  More info here.
• The USPTO issued several “warnings” to trademark applicants in June, including:
  • Notice that all application data sent to the USPTO is a public record, including the Applicant’s phone number, email address, and street address.
    • NOTE: for this reason, our firm never submits to the USPTO the trademark applicant’s phone number or email address as they are not required and it is better to ensure that all communication comes through counsel’s office.
  • Notice that important emails about an application may come to applicant and “will always come from an address including “@uspto.gov.” Ensure that emails are NOT treated as spam.  Also, if your emails address changes, you must update the USPTO records with the new address.  You should monitor the status of your application at least every 3-4 months after any filing to avoid missing any critical filing deadlines.”
    • NOTE: because mail and email can get lost or caught in spam filters, our customized computer docketing system monitors all activity from the USPTO, regardless of whether an email or snail mail correspondence is actually received.