1505.01(c) Processing Amendments to §1(b) Applications in Cases Where No Opposition Has Been Filed and No Notice of Allowance Has Issued
Amendments filed after publication and before issuance of a notice of allowance will be reviewed by paralegal specialists in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy. If necessary, the application will be withdrawn from issue to ensure that the notice of allowance does not issue before the amendment has been considered.
1505.01(c)(i) Acceptable Amendments
If the amendment is acceptable and republication is not required, the paralegal specialist will enter the amendment and schedule the mark for issuance of a notice of allowance. See TMEP §1505.03(b) for examples of amendments that do not require republication.
If the amendment is acceptable and republication is required, a paralegal specialist must telephone or email the applicant and inform the applicant that the amendment is acceptable, but requires republication of the mark. If the applicant wishes to pursue the request, the paralegal specialist must enter a Note to the File in the record indicating that the proposed amendment has been accepted, that republication is required, and that the applicant has agreed to the republication. The paralegal specialist will then enter the amendment and set a new publication date. A new notice of publication will be issued. See TMEP §1505.03(a) for examples of amendments that require republication.
1505.01(c)(ii) Unacceptable Amendments
If the paralegal specialist determines that the amendment is unacceptable, the paralegal specialist must provide written notification to the applicant explaining why the amendment is unacceptable and advising the applicant that: (1) the request to amend the application may be resubmitted with the statement of use; or (2) the applicant may file a TEAS Petition to Director under 37 C.F.R. §2.84 and §2.146 requesting that jurisdiction be restored to the examining attorney to consider the merits of the amendment.
See TMEP §§1107-1107.01 regarding amendments after issuance of the notice of allowance but before the filing of the statement of use.