1612.03    Attorney Identification Information

If the registrant is represented by an attorney qualified under 37 C.F.R §11.14  or is required to appoint such an attorney under 37 C.F.R. §2.11(a)  due to its foreign domicile, the registrant must provide the individual attorney’s name, postal address, email address, and bar information. See 37 C.F.R §§2.17(b)(3), 2.18(a)(2), (c). The USPTO requires this information only for the attorney of record (i.e., the primary attorney) and not for associate or other-appointed attorneys. For determining when a U.S.-licensed attorney must be appointed, see TMEP §§601-601.01(b).

Email Address. A valid email address must be provided for the registrant’s attorney, if one is appointed, that differs from the registrant’s email address in order for the USPTO to contact the registrant if representation ends. In this case, the TEAS forms will require email addresses for both the registrant and its attorney. The registrant may provide an email address of its choice, however, the listed primary correspondence email address of the registrant’s attorney cannot be identical to the registrant’s email address, even for in-house counsel and attorneys representing themselves in a trademark matter. Third-party email addresses may not be used as the primary email address for trademark correspondence. The registrant must maintain a current and accurate email address for its attorney of record. See 37 C.F.R §2.18(c).

Attorney bar information. The USPTO requires trademark registrants to provide attorney bar information for recognized attorneys in all trademark filings. 37 C.F.R §§2.17(b)(3). This requirement is not tied to the domicile of the registrant. See id.

Accordingly, the Post Registration staff will determine whether an appointed attorney or one signing or appearing in a post registration filing is properly licensed to practice in the United States and has provided his or her bar information. See 37 C.F.R §§2.17(b)(3), 11.14. See TMEP §602.01(a) for more information about the requirement for attorney bar information.