310.02    Defendant’s Copy of Institution Order Returned as Undeliverable

37 CFR § 2.118 Undelivered Office notices. When a notice sent by the Office to any registrant or applicant is returned to the Office undelivered, additional notice may be given by publication in the Official Gazette for the period of time prescribed by the Director.

If an applicant in an opposition is not represented by an attorney or other authorized representative, and the applicant’s copy of the notification is returned to the Board as undeliverable, the Board will make all reasonable efforts to locate the applicant. If the Board is unable to locate the applicant, additional notice of the proceeding may be given by publication in the Official Gazette. [ Note 1.] It should be noted, however, that it is the responsibility of an applicant representing itself to keep the Office informed of its current address.

If, in a cancellation or opposition proceeding, the defendant’s copy of the institution order is returned to the Board as undeliverable, or the plaintiff advises the Board that the service copy was returned undeliverable, the Board will make all reasonable efforts to locate the defendant, including inquiring of the plaintiff as to the defendant’s current address. If the Board is unable to locate the defendant after reasonable investigation, or if the plaintiff is unable to furnish respondent’s current address or notifies the Board that the defendant is no longer in business, notice of the filing of the petition to cancel or notice of opposition will be published in the Official Gazette,pursuant to 37 CFR § 2.118. [ Note 2.]

When notice of the filing of an opposition or petition to cancel is published in the Official Gazette, the published notice allows the defendant thirty days from the publication date thereof in which to appear in the proceeding. If the defendant fails to appear within the time allowed, default judgment may be entered against it.

For information concerning the procedure followed by the Board in a concurrent use proceeding when a communication sent by the Board to a specified excepted user is returned as undeliverable, see TBMP § 1106.05.

NOTES:

 1.   37 CFR § 2.118.

 2.   See 37 CFR § 2.118; Miscellaneous Changes to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Rules, 72 Fed. Reg. 42242, 42244 (August 1, 2007); Notice of Final Rulemaking, 54 Fed. Reg. 34886, 34891 (August 22, 1989).