[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58097-58098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23117]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-T-2012-0031]


Extension of Comment Period for Request for Comments Regarding 
Amending the First Filing Deadline for Affidavits or Declarations of 
Use or Excusable Nonuse

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'' or 
``Office'') is extending until November 5, 2012, the period for public 
comment regarding a potential legislative change to amend the first 
filing deadline for Affidavits or Declarations of Use or Excusable 
Nonuse under Sections 8 and 71 of the Trademark Act. The change would 
require Congress to amend the Trademark Act, and the USPTO is 
interested in receiving public input on whether and why such an 
amendment is or is not favored.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 5, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The USPTO prefers that comments be submitted via electronic 
mail message to [email protected]. Written comments may also be 
submitted by

[[Page 58098]]

mail to Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1451, attention Cynthia C. Lynch; by hand delivery to the 
Trademark Assistance Center, Concourse Level, James Madison Building--
East Wing, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia, attention Cynthia 
C. Lynch; or by electronic mail message via the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal. See the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site (http://www.regulations.gov) for additional instructions on providing comments 
via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. All comments submitted directly to 
the Office or provided on the Federal eRulemaking Portal should include 
the docket number (PTO-T-2012-0031). The comments will be available for 
public inspection on the USPTO's Web site at http://www.uspto.gov, and 
will also be available at the Office of the Commissioner for 
Trademarks, Madison East, Tenth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia. Because comments will be made available for public 
inspection, information that is not desired to be made public, such as 
an address or phone number, should not be included.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia C. Lynch, Office of the Deputy 
Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy, at (571) 272-8742.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 16, 2012, the USPTO published a 
request for comment to provide the public, including user groups, with 
an opportunity to comment on a potential legislative change to amend 
the first filing deadline for Affidavits or Declarations of Use or 
Excusable Nonuse under Sections 8 and 71 of the Trademark Act from 
between the fifth and sixth years after the registration date, or the 
six-month grace period that follows, to between the third and fourth 
years after the registration date, or the six-month grace period that 
follows (77 FR 49425 (August 16, 2012)).
    The notice invited the public to submit written comments on the 
potential change on or before October 15, 2012. The USPTO is now 
extending the period for submission of public comments until November 
5, 2012.

    Dated: September 13, 2012.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-23117 Filed 9-18-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P