1715.07    Recourse if Letter of Protest Submission is Determined to be Noncompliant

If the Deputy Commissioner determines that a letter of protest submission does not comply with the requirements of Rule 2.149, such that the evidenced submitted is not included in the application record, the protestor may pursue remedies otherwise available, such as an opposition proceeding, if the protestor complies with all relevant requirements and deadlines.  Filing a letter of protest does not stay or extend the time for filing a notice of opposition.  37 C.F.R. §2.149(e); TMEP §1715.03(b).

The protestor may not amend or file a request for reconsideration of the determination whether to include in the application record the ground(s) or evidence for a refusal identified in a letter of protest with the Deputy Commissioner. 37 C.F.R. §2.149(i),(j); see also In re BPJ Enter's. Ltd., 7 USPQ2d 1375, 1378 (Comm'r Pats. 1988). Nor may the protester petition the Director to review the Deputy Commissioner’s determination. 37 C.F.R §2.149(i). Instead, a party who previously filed a non-compliant submission may file another letter of protest submission that meets the requirements of 37 C.F.R §2.149(f), provided the time period for filing a submission has not closed.