1013    Requirement for Representation of Applicants Not Domiciled in the United States

Requirement for Representation of Non-U.S.-domiciled Applicants. An applicant whose domicile is not located within the United States or its territories must be represented before the USPTO by an attorney who is an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a U.S. state, Commonwealth, or territory (a qualified U.S. attorney). 37 C.F.R. §2.11(a); TMEP §601.

Attorney Identification Information Required. If the applicant is represented by an attorney qualified under 37 C.F.R. §11.14  or is required to appoint such an attorney due to its foreign domicile, an applicant 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(c), 2.22(a)(20), 2.32(a)(4). See TMEP §602.01(a) regarding the requirement for attorney identification information.

Examination. For non-U.S. domiciled applicants, the first Office action will generally include requirements to appoint a qualified U.S. attorney and to provide his or her bar information and postal and email addresses, as well as any other refusals and/or requirements. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.11(a), 2.23(b); TMEP §601.01(a). See TMEP §601.01(a) for more information regarding the examination procedure for applicants with a domicile outside of the United States and its territories and requiring such applicants to appoint a qualified U.S. attorney and §602 regarding persons authorized to practice before the USPTO in trademark matters.

SeeTMEP §1904.01(i) regarding the requirement for representation of non-U.S.-domiciled §66(a) applicants.

See TMEP §1006 regarding designation of a domestic representative when filing an assignment and §610 regarding designation of a domestic representative for applicants not domiciled in the United States.