306    Facsimile (Fax) Submissions

Trademark documents may not be filed by fax and, if submitted, will not be processed or accorded a date of receipt. 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(c), 2.195(c); see also 37 C.F.R. §2.2(s)  (indicating that the term "electronic submission," as used in the Rules of Practice in Trademark Cases, does not include submissions made through facsimile transmission).

However, if the USPTO has issued a notice regarding a widespread or lengthy TEAS outage on the date of the deadline for a submission, the requirement to file electronically will be waived, and filings via facsimile will be accepted without a petition or petition fee. TMEP §301.01(b). In these circumstances, procedures for submission by fax will be posted on the USPTO website. If the USPTO website is inaccessible, the filer should call the Trademark Assistance Center at (571) 272-9250 or email TEAS@uspto.gov for information on the temporary procedures. See TMEP §1709.01(a) for the requirements for submitting a document during a widespread or lengthy TEAS outage and the associated fees.