1715.03(e)   Letter of Protest Does Not Stay or Extend Opposition Period

Filing a letter of protest does not stay or extend the opposition period.  Therefore, a party who files a letter of protest after publication should also file a timely request(s) for extension of time to oppose under 15 U.S.C. §1063 with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  See TBMP §215 for further information.  The Board will not suspend a potential opposer’s time to file a notice of opposition because a letter of protest has been filed.  See notice at 68 Fed. Reg. 55748, 55760 (Sept. 26, 2003).