111.02(f)    Excluded Filings

The certificate of mailing procedure is not applicable to the filing of an extension of time to oppose, or a notice of opposition involving an application under Trademark Act § 66(a), 15 U.S.C. § 1141f(a). [ Note 1.] The certificate of mailing procedure is applicable to all other types of paper filings in Board proceedings, only to the limited extent paper filings are permitted (see TBMP § 106.03), including a notice of opposition; a petition to cancel; a request for an extension of time to oppose; a notice of appeal to the Board from a final refusal of registration; a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from a decision of the Board; and a notice of election (in an inter partes proceeding) to proceed by civil action under Trademark Act § 21(a)(1), 15 U.S.C. § 1071(a)(1), in response to another party’s appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Any paper filing must be accompanied by a showing that ESTTA is unavailable due to technical problems, or that extraordinary circumstances are present, and, where required, a Petition to the Director with the requisite petition fee.

The certificate of transmission procedure is not applicable to any correspondence intended for the Board. [ Note 2.] Neither a certificate of mailing nor a certificate of transmission is necessary or appropriate for documents filed via ESTTA. When an ESTTA filing is received by the Board, the filer will be provided with a notice that the document has been successfully filed. See generally TBMP §110.09.

NOTES:

 1.   37 CFR § 2.102(a)(1)  ("A request to extend the opposition period for an application based on Section 66(a) of the Act must be filed through ESTTA and may not under any circumstances be filed in paper form."); 37 CFR § 2.101(b)(3)  ("An opposition to an application based on Section 66(a) of the Act must be filed through ESTTA and may not under any circumstances be filed in paper form."). In addition, the certificate of mailing procedure may not be used in connection with the filing of trademark applications, 37 CFR § 2.197(a)(2)(i), and certain other Madrid-related correspondence, 37 CFR § 2.197(a)(2)(ii). See TMEP § 305.02(a).

 2.   37 CFR § 2.195(d)(3).