[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 84 (Monday, May 2, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25623-25624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-09335]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-T-2022-0012]


USPTO To Begin Issuing Electronic Trademark Registration 
Certificates

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will 
begin issuing electronic trademark registration certificates on June 7, 
2022. Upon issuance, the electronic registration certificate will be 
the official registration certificate. After the USPTO begins issuing 
electronic registration certificates, trademark owners will have the 
option to order paper ``presentation'' copies for a fee. They will also 
continue to be able to order certified copies of their trademark 
registrations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Cain, Office of the Deputy 
Commissioner for Trademark

[[Page 25624]]

Examination Policy, USPTO, at 571-272-8946 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO will begin issuing trademark 
registration certificates electronically via the USPTO's Trademark 
Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system on June 7, 2022. With this 
change, the USPTO is continuing with its efforts to move to full 
electronic processing of trademark applications and registrations. This 
change also updates USPTO practice to conform to customer requests and 
public comments the USPTO has received that indicated a strong 
preference for the issuance of trademark registration certificates in a 
digital format rather than as a paper certificate. The change will make 
the certificates more accessible for trademark owners and decrease the 
time it takes for trademark owners to receive them. It will also 
further the USPTO's efforts to positively impact the environment by 
reducing the use of paper.
    After implementation, trademark registration certificates will no 
longer be issued by printing them on paper and mailing them to the 
correspondence address of record. Instead, the USPTO will issue the 
registrations electronically under the electronic signature of the 
Director and with a digital seal, which will authenticate the 
registration. The USPTO will upload the official registration 
certificate to the TSDR database, and an electronic notice will be 
emailed to the trademark owner and all email addresses of record with a 
link to access the certificate upon issuance. Posted with the 
electronic registration certificate will be information regarding 
registration maintenance requirements pursuant to sections 8 and 71 of 
the Trademark Act of 1946. 15 U.S.C. 1058, 1141(k). Trademark owners 
will be able to use the emailed link to view, download, and print a 
complete copy of the registration certificate at no charge at any time.
    While the USPTO will no longer send a paper registration 
certificate upon issuance, trademark owners will be able to order a 
one-page, condensed, printed copy of the issued registration that is 
suitable for framing. This document, known as a ``presentation'' copy, 
will be printed on heavy paper; feature a gold foil seal; identify the 
owner(s); and display bibliographic data, the trademark, and the 
classes of goods and/or services. Trademark owners who file an initial 
application on or after the implementation date will be able to order 
presentation copies for $25 per copy through the Trademark Electronic 
Application System (TEAS). Trademark owners who filed an initial 
application before the implementation date will be able to order one 
presentation copy for free. Trademark owners will continue to be able 
to order certified copies of their trademark registration for a fee. 
The certified copy certifies the status and title of the registration 
and includes the signature of an authorized certifying officer.
    In advance of the transition to electronic registration 
certificates, the USPTO published a notice in the Federal Register on 
December 15, 2021 (86 FR 71249), regarding its plan and provided 
additional background information. That notice indicated that the USPTO 
would publish a notice reminding the public of the transition 
approximately 30 days before the implementation date, once it was 
determined. As the date has been determined, the USPTO now publishes 
this reminder.

Katherine K. Vidal,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2022-09335 Filed 4-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P