1904.01(j)    Requirement for E-mail Address of §66(a) Applicant

Applicants must provide and maintain a valid e-mail address for correspondence. 37 C.F.R. §§2.23(b), 2.32(a)(2); see 37 C.F.R. §7.25(a). Although providing an e-mail address is required for applicants filing under Trademark Act Sections 1 and/or 44 (37 C.F.R. §2.21(a)(1); TMEP §202), this is not a filing date requirement for a Section 66(a) application because these are transmitted to the USPTO by the International Bureau (IB) and generally do not include an e-mail address for receiving USPTO correspondence. See TMEP §803.05(b) regarding the examination procedure for requiring an applicant’s e-mail address.

If a Section 66(a) application is otherwise in condition for approval for publication upon first action, the examining attorney will not require the owner to first provide an e-mail address prior to publication. However, the TEAS forms will require an e-mail address for the owner in any subsequent submissions.