The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has initiated a new trademark applicant address verification process. This development is part of a larger move by the USPTO aimed towards improving and maintaining the accuracy of the Trademark Register, and to safeguard against trademark scams and bot-filed trademark applications. The new procedures for reviewing domicile addresses in applications and at post-registration have been detailed in a brand-new Examination Guide. The information was released by the law firm Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox.
- The USPTO is now going to scrutinize the domicile addresses provided by applicants more rigorously. The domicile, for an individual, is defined as the place the individual considers their permanent home; for a juristic entity, it is the country or state where it is incorporated.
- Since domicile cannot change without effective change of an institution or individual’s base of operations, the USPTO will require the provision of a street address (P.O. Box addresses may be disallowed).
- Further, the onus to prove the legitimacy and veracity of the domicile will now rest squarely on the applicant. The USPTO may request for additional documents and evidence to verify this information.
These alterations mark an intensified effort by the office to clamp down on fraudulent practices. For the corporate world, particularly for those directly engaged with trademark registration and intellectual property rights, being cognizant of these changes is crucial to avoid stumbling blocks during the application process.