1209.03    Upon Determination of Letter of Protest

A third party that has objective evidence bearing upon the registrability of a mark in a pending application may bring such evidence to the attention of the Office by filing, with the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy, a "letter of protest" that complies with the requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 2.149. [ Note 1.] TBMP § 1207.06. The Deputy Commissioner will determine if the submission complies with the requirements of Trademark Rule 2.149 and whether any submitted evidence should be included in the application record for consideration by the examining attorney. See TBMP § 215.

Proceedings in an ex parte appeal will not be suspended pending determination by the Deputy Commissioner of a letter of protest. However, if the Deputy Commissioner determines that the letter of protest submission complies with the requirements of Rule 2.149 and includes submitted evidence in the application record, and the examining attorney, having considered the evidence, believes that an issue not involved in the appeal may render the mark of the applicant unregistrable, the examining attorney may file a written request with the Board, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 2.142(f)(6), to suspend the appeal and remand the application for further examination.

For information concerning requests for remand for a new refusal or new requirement, and the further proceedings in the case if such a request is granted by the Board, see 37 C.F.R. § 2.142(f)(6), and TBMP § 1209.02.

NOTES:

 1.   See TMEP § 1715.