716.02(l)    Pending Decision on a Petition to Waive the Domicile Address Requirement

An applicant may file a petition to the Director to waive the domicile address requirement of Trademark Rule 2.189 when an extraordinary situation exists that would justify waiving the rule. See 37 C.F.R §§2.146(a)(5), 2.148, 2.189; TMEP §1708.01.

The following suspension guidelines apply when an applicant has filed a petition to the Director to waive the domicile address requirement:

  • Petition pending prior to issuing a first Office action. If the application appears to be otherwise in condition for publication (i.e., the domicile address is the only issue), the examining attorney must suspend the application pending a decision on the petition to waive the domicile address requirement. The examining attorney may not approve the application for publication. Permission to suspend is not required from the Petitions Office. However, the application must not be suspended if the application is not otherwise in condition for publication. In this situation, the examining attorney must issue all applicable refusals and/or requirements, including the domicile address requirement, in the first Office action.
  • Petition pending prior to issuing a final Office action. If a petition to the Director to waive the domicile address requirement is pending after a domicile address requirement has been issued, and the application is otherwise in condition for issuance of a final Office action, the examining attorney may suspend the application only if: (1) the applicant has requested suspension, and (2) the Petitions Office has provided permission to suspend. The mere filing of a petition does not constitute a response to an outstanding Office action. The applicant must file a timely response to avoid abandonment of the application.

    In this situation, the examining attorney must use the "Request to Suspend Action Pending Petition Decision" to request permission to suspend action pending a decision on a petition to waive the domicile address requirement. If permission is granted, the Petitions Office staff will add a Note to the File granting permission to suspend and inform the examining attorney via email that they may issue a suspension action noting the pending petition as a reason for suspension. Once the petition decision is issued, a petitions attorney or paralegal will notify the examining attorney via email.

  • Petition pending after issuing a final Office action. If a petition to the Director is pending after a final domicile address requirement has been issued, and the application appears to be otherwise in condition for publication (i.e., the domicile address is the only issue), the examining attorney may suspend the application pending a decision on the petition. Permission to suspend is not required from the Petitions Office.