101.05    Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure

The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure ("TBMP") (i.e., this Manual) is a compilation of statutory, regulatory, and decisional authority relevant to Board practice and procedure. It is written as a guide for the Board, practitioners and parties before the Board. In addition to compiling applicable authority, the TBMP includes many practical suggestions on practice before the Board. Nonetheless, the TBMP "does not modify, amend, or serve as a substitute for any statutes, rules or decisional law and is not binding upon the [TTAB]." [ Note 1.]

The TBMP is revised annually to incorporate changes in applicable statutes, rules, and case law, and to reflect changes in Board practice. [ Note 2.] Practitioners and parties before the Board who consult the TBMP should keep the publication date of the current revision in mind, and conduct any research necessary to determine whether there have been any relevant changes in the law since publication.

The TBMP is not – nor is it intended to be – a comprehensive reference on all aspects of the procedural or substantive law applicable to Board proceedings. Parties are urged to conduct appropriate legal research, as needed, or obtain legal counsel. See TBMP § 114.

NOTES:

 1.   Rosenruist-Gestao E Servicos LDA v. Virgin Enterprises Ltd., 511 F.3d 437, 85 USPQ2d 1385, 1393 (4th Cir. 2007) (quoting TBMP Introduction). See also El Encanto, Inc. v. Hatch Chile Co., 825 F.3d 1161, 119 USPQ2d 1139, 1143 (10th Cir. 2016) (quoting in part from TBMP Introduction). Cf. In re Sones, 590 F.3d 1282, 93 USPQ2d 1118, 1123 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ("the TMEP is instructive, but ‘is not established law,’") (citing In re Pennington Seed, Inc., 466 F.3d 1053, 80 USPQ2d 1758, 1763 (Fed. Cir. 2006)) ("While the TMEP is not established law, but only provides instructions to examiners, it does represent the PTO’s established policy on varietal names that is entitled to our respect.").

 2.   The Board welcomes suggestions for improving the content of the TBMP. Suggestions and comments should be addressed to:

ATTN: TBMP Editor

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board

P.O. Box 1451

Alexandria,VA 22313-1451

Suggestions may be submitted electronically to: TBMPComments@uspto.gov.