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DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD30 Publication ID: Fall 2018 
Title: Requirement of U.S. Licensed Attorney for Foreign Trademark Applicants and Registrants 
Abstract:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to amend its rules to require foreign trademark applicants and registrants to be represented by a U.S. licensed attorney, i.e. an attorney in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State in the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and any Commonwealth or territory of the U.S.) to file trademark documents with the USPTO. A requirement that foreigners be represented by a U.S. licensed attorney will (i) ensure that the USPTO can effectively use available mechanisms to enforce foreign applicant compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in trademark matters; (ii) provide greater confidence to foreign applicants and the public that registrations that issue to foreign applicants are not subject to invalidation for reasons such as improper signatures and use claims; and (iii) aid USPTO efforts to improve accuracy of the U.S. Trademark Register.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Other Significant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 13771 Designation: Fully or Partially Exempt 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 2.11    37 CFR 2.17    37 CFR 7.25    37 CFR 11.14   
Legal Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1123    35 U.S.C. 2   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  11/00/2018 
NPRM Comment Period End  02/00/2019 
Final Action  06/00/2019 
Final Action Effective  07/00/2019 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Catherine Cain
Senior Trademark Policy Attorney & Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure Editor
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
P.O. Box 1451,
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone:571 272-8946
Fax:571 273-8946
Email: catherine.cain@uspto.gov