301.01(b)    TEAS Availability

The Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) is generally available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TEAS, however, is periodically down for scheduled maintenance and unexpected outages. Users should check the "USPTO Systems Status and Availability" page on the USPTO website for notice regarding such maintenance or outage.

TEAS widespread or lengthy system outage. In the event TEAS is unavailable to the general public due to a widespread or lengthy TEAS outage, the USPTO will continue its practice of issuing a notice on the "USPTO Systems Status and Availability" page, specifying temporary procedures for filing documents with the USPTO. If the USPTO website is inaccessible, the filer should call the Trademark Assistance Center at (571) 272-9250 or email TEAS@uspto.gov for information on the temporary procedures.

If the outage falls on the date of the deadline for the submission, the requirement to file electronically will be waived, and filings via facsimile will be accepted without a petition or petition fee. See TMEP §1709.01(a) for the requirements for submitting a document during a widespread or lengthy TEAS outage and the associated fees.

TEAS limited or short-term system outage or user’s system outage. If TEAS is unavailable due to either a limited or short-term USPTO system outage or a user’s system outage on the date of the deadline for submission of a document, a petition to the Director to accept a paper submission may be submitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.147(a). See TMEP §1709.01(b) for the requirements for submitting a document during a limited or short-term USPTO system outage or user’s system outage and the associated fees.

See also TMEP §1709 regarding filing petitions to the Director under 37 C.F.R. §2.147  to accept paper filings in general.