TEAS FAQs

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Basics - Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other

When is the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) available?

We make every effort to have the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The site is sometimes down for scheduled maintenance, for which the USPTO generally posts advance notice. We recommend that you check the current server status and planned outages page before beginning the filing process. Sometimes the site is also down unexpectedly. Although we try to restore service as soon as possible, this does not always happen as quickly as we would hope. Because of the possibility of an unforeseen problem (such as site downtime or Internet connectivity issues), we encourage you to plan ahead and not wait until the last minute to file time-sensitive forms electronically with the USPTO.

All forms filed via TEAS are time/date stamped when received on the USPTO server, according to Eastern Standard Time (EST) and EST controls for purposes of determining the timeliness of a document. Any submission that arrives as of 11:59 p.m. EST will be given that day's filing date (i.e., regardless of the USPTO's "normal" business hours).

If your deadline is today and the document cannot be filed via TEAS due to an outage, you must use an alternative method of filing to ensure that the document is timely received in the USPTO. A deadline that falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday within the District of Columbia extends the due date to the next succeeding day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. 37 C.F.R. §2.196. See TMEP 308.

When is TEAS available?

What controls the filing date for a TEAS filing?

All forms filed via TEAS are time/date stamped when received on the USPTO server, according to Eastern Standard Time (EST). The time/date stamp is applied at the moment the payment process is completed and the success screen is displayed. The time/date stamp applied by the TEAS server is the official time the USPTO received the application or form; the time the transmission began is not a factor considered when assigning the filing date. The official filing date and time can be found at the bottom of your e-mail confirmation. Any submission that arrives as of 11:59 p.m. EST will be given that day's filing date (i.e., regardless of USPTO's "normal" business hours).

How do I save a TEAS form?

TEAS allows you to save your work as a portable form at the Validation Page. This page appears at the end of the application after you have entered all your information in the form. To download and save the form data, you must click on the "Download Portable Data" button at the bottom of the Validation Page. The information will be saved to your local drive. To begin the submission process with saved data, you must open a new form, and click on the "Browse/Choose File" button displayed on the initial form wizard page, at "[OPTIONAL]" To access previously-saved data, use the "Browse/Choose File" button below to access the file from your local drive." Clicking on the "Continue" button at the bottom of the first page will then properly open the saved version of the form.

Alternatively, you may create a "dummy" form and enter the "real" data at a later point. You can create a "dummy" form by (1) pulling up the regular TEAS form; (2) entering either an "x" for any mandatory field, or "fake" numbers where a numerical entry is required, or attaching a "dummy" image file; (3) validating this version of the form; (4) using the button on the bottom of the validation page to save the form to your local drive; (5) pulling up the saved form, and (6) entering "real" data for any field wherein an "x" was initially used as a "data placeholder." WARNING: If you create a "dummy" form, and the USPTO then later upgrades the form, the saved template may not be usable for future filings, and a new template based on the upgraded version of the form may have to be created.

Can I keep data when backing up in a form?

If you "back up" on a TEAS form after validation, e.g., to correct an error, and your form is now completely blank, your system probably has a "cache" deficiency. Cache is a storage area on your browser that is used to keep track of Internet web pages. Augmenting your cache can enhance your computer system's performance, and allow you to complete TEAS forms without losing previously-entered data. To accomplish this, you should allocate at least 5-10 megabytes (approximately 5,000-10,000 KB) of your hard drive to the browser. If you have a small hard drive and cannot allocate this amount, you should allocate about 5-10% of your available hard drive capacity to your browser. Also, we recommend that you periodically totally clear your cached files.

Augmenting your Cache:
To increase your cache size, follow the steps under the appropriate browser version:
For Navigator 4-7x:

1. Under the Edit menu, select Preferences, double-click Advanced, and select Cache.
2. Change the disk cache to between 5,000 and 10,000 KB.

For Internet Explorer 4:

1. Under the View menu, select Internet Options and choose the General tab.
2. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Settings. Under "Amount of disk space to use," drag the slider all the way to the right and click "ok."

For Internet Explorer 5-6x:

1. Under the Tools menu, select Internet Options and choose the General tab.
2. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Settings. Under "Amount of disk space to use," drag the slider all the way to the right and click "ok."

Clearing your Cache:
To clear your cached files, follow the steps under the appropriate browser version:
For Navigator 4-7x:

1. Under the Edit menu, select Preferences, double-click Advanced, and select Cache.
2. Click the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disc Cache buttons.

For Internet Explorer 4:

1. Under the View menu, select Options and choose the General tab.
2. In the Temporary Internet Files dialog box, click Settings/Delete Files.

For Internet Explorer 5-6x:

1. Under the Tools menu, select Internet Options and choose the General tab.
2. In the Temporary Internet Files section, click Delete Cookies Delete History files.

Does TEAS work with a Blackberry?

A Blackberry can be used to sign a TEAS form (using the e-signature approach), with certain workaround steps. Do not click directly on the provided link (i.e., at, e.g., "To sign Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register electronically, please CLICK HERE,"); otherwise, an error will result. Instead, you must copy the long link provided beneath the above (i.e., e.g. https://teasplus.uspto.gov/submit250/sign.service?id=USPTO/FTK-10.113.1… ). Then, go to the web browser and paste in the entire link. By way of example, here are specific instructions presented to the USPTO by a Blackberry user: 1). Go into the T-zones web browser (browser provided by this user's service provider, i.e., T-mobile); 2). Click "Track wheel" and select "Paste;" 3). Click "Track wheel" again, and select "O.K.;" 4). This should result in the signature page being displayed, wherein the signature and date can be entered.

Is the TEAS login requirement only for new applications?

All TEAS and TEASi forms will require customers to log in starting October 26, 2019, even if they applied before that date. This includes forms for applications in progress and registration maintenance filings.

How do I avoid timing out of a TEAS and TEASi form after 30 minutes of inactivity?

Certain actions reset the inactivity timer and keep your session alive. Actions that count as activity include:

Changing pages within the form using the “Go Back” or ”Continue” navigation buttons at the bottom of each page.
Uploading attachments to TEAS.
Choosing “Yes, keep me signed in” on the inactivity pop-up warning.

Actions that do not count as activity include:

Typing in a text field. Please consider typing lengthy responses into a separate document first and then pasting them into the form.
Browsing the ID manual inside of TEAS and checking the boxes of identifications does not count as activity until you insert the checked entries in the form.
Clicking hyperlinks or help text links in the TEAS or TEASi form.
Checking boxes and radio buttons. Since some boxes and radio buttons behave differently than others, assume none of them count as activity.

Will I be logged out for inactivity when filling out the TEAS and TEASi forms?

You will be logged off after 30 minutes of inactivity. You will see a warning when there are five minutes remaining. A countdown timer will appear and you can choose “Yes, continue my session” to keep working. If you do not choose to continue your session, after five minutes you will be timed out of the form. When this happens, you will lose all the data entered in the form if you have not previously saved it by selecting the “Save” button on the validation page. If you are timed out due to inactivity, you will need to start the form again.

Will my client have to create a USPTO.gov account just to sign or review a document?

The TEAS e-signature process and the TEASi “send for review” process are exempt from the login requirement. Customers using the TEAS e-signature process can sign and return a document without logging in.

What is the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS)?

The Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) allows you to fill out online USPTO forms. You can submit the forms directly to the USPTO over the Internet and pay by credit cards, electronic funds transfer, or through an existing USPTO deposit account. TEAS can also be used to file other documents including a response to an examining attorney's Office action, a change of address, an allegation of use, and post registration maintenance documents.

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Basics

Does TEAS have specific PDF requirements?

Failure to satisfy the specific USPTO requirements for any PDF attachment may result in the TEAS form not validating. For the USPTO to accept any PDF attachments, the PDF file must satisfy the following:

be a valid PDF format. It is not sufficient that the file simply be named using a PDF extension (.pdf), because that does not by itself create a valid PDF file.
be version 1.3 or newer.
have an overall size under 30 MB. While no page limit exists, each PDF file cannot exceed 30 MB.
Not contain security settings (e.g., self-sign security, user passwords, and/or permissions) that would prevent the USPTO from opening, viewing, or printing the file. All security settings must be deactivated (e.g., encryption, master passwords, and/or permissions) prior to upload to TEAS.
Not contain any embedded scripts and/or executables, including sound or movie (multimedia) objects, prior to upload to TEAS.
Not contain any multimedia (e.g., sound, video, animations, slide shows); 3-dimensional models; or multi-page objects (e.g., Excel spreadsheets), prior to upload to TEAS. While the overall PDF file would upload, the other internal object will be "stripped" out of the file, and will not be viewable.
be named properly. The file name can consist of any upper or lower case letters or numbers, but must end in .pdf. It can also include the following: _ , -, and . [excluding the commas shown here]. No spaces are allowed in the actual PDF file name, but spaces are permitted in the file path. The name can be up to 256 characters long, including the .pdf portion; however, you are encouraged to use the shortest name possible. [NOTE: Similarly, for JPG files, while the name can be up to 256 characters, including the .jpg portion, you should use the shortest name possible, as that helps ensure a successful upload to TEAS].
use one of the following formats for any images within the PDF file: GIF, BMP, TIFF, JPG and/or PNG. No other image formats are supported. However, the image may include black-and-white, color, and/or grayscale.
use one of the following fonts, to ensure proper upload to TEAS:
- Courier (Regular, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic)
- Times (Roman, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic)
- Helvetica (Regular, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic)
- Symbol
- Zapf Dingbats

NOTE: Fonts not listed above must be embedded within the PDF document, and the fonts listed above should be embedded. In addition, all fonts should be set to "subset."

be free of worms, viruses or other malicious content. Files with malicious content will be deleted.
be "single layer." Documents with multiple layers must be flattened prior to submission, to convert all overlapping areas in a stack of transparent objects into a collection of opaque objects. Any invisible layers will be lost when processed by the USPTO.
NOT contain any active hypertext links, or any internal/external links. While you may textually reference a URL as a disabled link, it cannot be presented as an actual hyperlink.
be saved at 300 DPI.
be no larger than 14 x 14 inches. If any page within the entire PDF file exceeds this size limitation, the entire PDF file will be blocked from upload.

NOTE: If you need assistance resizing PDF pages or reducing the DPI, please forward the PDF file to TEAS@uspto.gov, for resizing/reduction within one (1) business day.

Does TEAS require me to allow pop-up windows?

The USPTO forms use pop-up windows to display critical information. To use this site properly, you must disable any existing pop-up filters (through either anti-virus software or a pop-up killer program).

How should I open any TEAS form?

To use a TEAS form, each and every time you should (1) double-click on the browser icon on your desktop; (2) proceed to the TEAS site; and (3) click on the link for the desired form. Although you can open more than one form at a time through these steps, you should process ONE form at a time, and close the browser after completing the form. This will ensure a "unique" server session for each TEAS form to be processed. If you already have a TEAS form open on your desktop, never open another form via your browser's "File New Window" option. Also, do not open a new form through a link or bookmark while you have another form open. Failure to follow the steps outlined above may result in improper data displaying within the form.

Also, the TEAS forms work best when they are accessed directly via a web browser. Do not attempt to access the forms via a browser embedded in another program. For instance, do not attempt to access the forms from within your Outlook or Lotus Notes web browser feature. Accessing the forms in this manner may disable some of the forms' features. You should always open your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Safari, etc.) directly and then use the TEAS forms.

What is TEAS?

How do I avoid making a fraudulent filing?

A registration is subject to cancellation for fraudulent statements. Therefore, you must ensure that all statements made in filings to the USPTO are accurate, as any inaccuracies may result in the cancellation of a trademark registration. For example, the lack of a bona fide intention to use the mark with all goods and/or services listed in an application or the lack of actual use on all goods and/or services for which you claimed use in an application or post-registration filing could jeopardize the validity of the registration, resulting in its cancellation.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Contact Information - Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other

When are emails to the TEAS mailbox answered?

The TEAS mailbox is monitored Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. ET, with the exception of federal holidays. A representative will respond to your request during the next scheduled business day. Please be advised that when a filing deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the filing may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. 37 C.F.R. §2.196. For immediate technical support on Saturdays and Sundays through 10 p.m. EST, please call 1-800-786-9199 (press 3).

Please be advised that if the deadline for filing your document is today, you must use an alternative method of filing to ensure that the document is timely received. Information on alternative filing and payment methods for common document types is available on the Filing Documents During an Outage page.

A reminder that you may email TEAS@uspto.gov for help in resolving glitches or answering technical questions. Please include the following information: (1) your name, (2) telephone number, (3) serial number and/or registration number, (4) a description of your issue, including the name of the form you are having problems with (e.g., Response to Office Action Form, Request for Extension of Time to File a Statement of Use, etc.), and (5) a screen shot of any error message that you are receiving.

If you need general trademark information, please Contact the Trademark Assistance Center.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Drawing/Image Files

What are the requirements for drawing files (mark images)?

The mark image you submit with your application will be printed on your registration certificate. It is in your best interest to submit a clear, high-quality image.

Mark image requirements:

JPG format
5 MB or smaller
The filename must be less than 256 characters long, including the .jpg extension.
You are encouraged to use the shortest name possible. Remember to save images created on a Macintosh using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator with the .jpg extension.
Cannot be zipped or otherwise compressed
Please bear in mind that JPG files are already compressed.
The mark image cannot include the trademark, service mark or registration symbols (TM, SM,®).
These symbols should only appear on your specimen. Please see TMEP section 906 for more details.
The image must contain as little white space around the design as possible.
Submit the image in black and white or grayscale if you are not claiming color as a feature of your mark.
Submit the image in color if you are claiming color as a feature of your mark.
- If submitting in color, use RGB color scheme.
- Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator users must not submit files in the CYMK color scheme.

Additionally, we recommend you do the following to create a high-quality image:

If possible, stay all-electronic.
TEAS loads images directly to our database without the error-producing steps of printing and scanning.
If you must scan:
- Scan a high-quality original.
- Scan at a high resolution.
- Use your scanning software to crop, resize, and adjust the image to minimize white space.
- Scan black and white or color images at 300-350 dots per inch, and with a pixel range of 250-944 pixels for both length and width. We also accept grayscale images, so you can scan your image using 8 bits per sample pixel. We consider images saved in grayscale to be black and white.

What are the requirements for file attachments to TEAS forms?

We accept image files in PDF or JPG format. Drawing files (mark images) must be submitted in JPG format, see requirements for drawing files for more information. You may submit all other image files (specimens, evidence, etc.) in either format.

JPG requirements:

JPG files must be 5MB or smaller.
The filename can be up to 256 characters long, including the ".jpg" extension.
You are encouraged to use the shortest filename possible. Remember to save images created on a Macintosh using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator with the .jpg extensions.

PDF requirements:
Size

All files must be 30MB or smaller
All files must be saved at 300 DPI
Page size within the files must be set to 14 x 14 inches or smaller
If any page within the entire PDF file exceeds this size limitation, the entire PDF file will be blocked from upload.

Format

Use a valid PDF format. It is NOT sufficient that the file simply be named using a PDF extension (.pdf), because that does not by itself create a valid PDF file.
Use one of the formats below for images within the PDF file.
GIF, BMP, TIFF, JPG or PNG
Use one of the fonts below.
Courier (Regular, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic), Times (Roman, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic), Helvetica (Regular, Bold, Italic, or Bold Italic), Symbol, Zapf Dingbats.
NOTE: Fonts not listed above must be embedded within the PDF document.
Fonts should be set to "subset."

Filename

Can use upper or lower case letters or numbers, periods (.), underscores(_), or hyphens (-)
No spaces
Spaces are permitted in the file path, (the file's location on your computer), but never in the name of the file itself.
Must end in .pdf
Can be up to 256 characters long including the .pdf portion. Please use the shortest name possible.

Do not include

Security settings
For example, self-sign security, user passwords, and/or permissions, or any other security settings that would prevent us from opening, viewing, or printing the file.
All security settings must be deactivated (e.g., encryption, master passwords, and/or permissions).
Embedded scripts and/or executables
For example, interactive actions or form data importation scripts
Worms, viruses or other malicious content
Files with malicious content will be deleted.
Active hypertext links, or any internal/external links
While you may textually reference a URL as a disabled link, it cannot be presented as an actual hyperlink.
Embedded Objects
- Multimedia
  For example, sound, video, animations, slide shows
- 3-dimensional models
- Multi-page objects
  For example, Excel spreadsheets
  While the overall PDF file would upload, the other internal object will be "stripped" out of the file, and will not be viewable.

Other requirements

All files must contain only a single layer.
Documents with multiple layers must be flattened prior to submission, to convert all overlapping areas in a stack of transparent objects into a collection of opaque objects.
Any invisible layers will be lost when processed by the USPTO.
Use Adobe version 1.3 or newer.

NOTE: If you have Adobe Acrobat Professional 6.0, for instructions on resizing PDF pages or reducing the DPI, click here; otherwise, please forward the PDF file to TEAS@uspto.gov, for resizing/reduction within ONE (1) business day. Sending a file to the TEAS mailbox is NOT considered an actual "filing" for any deadline purposes.

Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Identity verification

I’ve already verified my identity for patent filing purposes. Now what?

If you’ve previously verified your identity in order to access the patent filing systems, Patent Center, then you do not need to verify your identity again to access TEAS or TEASi. Some verified patent customers may need to take a quick additional step and select a filing role to gain access to TEAS and TEASi, but most will automatically gain access. Patent customers who are currently sponsored as Proofed Practitioner Support will need to be separately sponsored as Attorney Support Staff in the trademark system by a verified attorney using the Trademark sponsorship tool before they can access TEAS and TEASi.

How does my USPTO.gov account work with ID verification?

A USPTO.gov account is required to access TEAS and TEASi. When you create a USPTO.gov account, you provide your name and primary email address. After verification, the name field is locked and your account is authorized. This helps the USPTO ensure that a person using the trademark system to enter information or make changes is authorized to do so.

Can I have duplicate accounts, such as one for myself and one for work?

For security purposes, each individual person may only have one verified account used to access trademark filing systems. You may create additional USPTO.gov accounts for other functions that don’t require identity verification, such as making payments.

Can I share my account with others?

No. Account sharing is not permitted under the Terms of Use for USPTO websites. However, if you’re an attorney and need legal support staff to work on your behalf, you may sponsor them using the Trademark sponsorship tool.

Can I use a company account?

No. Each USPTO.gov account must correspond to a single person. Company accounts are not currently allowed, and will continue to be disallowed for identity verification purposes. You won’t be able to verify an account that has a company, firm, or other entity name in the account holder name fields.

Am I required to use my verified name when filing trademark documents?

No. The name on your account does not need to exactly match the name that you use when filing, as long as both names are truthful and meet our other signature requirements. We understand that many people experience issues updating their records after a name change. We also understand that many people use nicknames, middle names, or other names professionally. However, if the name on a filing doesn’t seem to identify the same person named in the account, we may inquire about it.

What if I need to change my verified name?

If you already verified your account under a previous name and now need to change it, you must request a name change using the paper verification form option. We currently don’t have an electronic option for verified name changes, but we’re evaluating that possibility for the future. Any name change will need to be supported by official documentation.

Will the name and postal address in my verified USPTO.gov account appear in my TEAS or TEASi filings?

No. The name and postal address in your account is used only for validation purposes. It will not automatically appear on any form or on any filing that is available to the public. The information that appears publicly is the information that you submit in the TEAS or TEASi form.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Miscellaneous Issues - Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other

How do I ensure receipt of email coming from the USPTO?

You will want to make sure that all USPTO emails reach you. Unfortunately, servers or SPAM filters often block important messages or send them to your junk folder because they don't recognize the sender. Please note that the USPTO cannot deliver an email successfully if:

1) The destination email address is not valid. Please check that the entered e-mail address does not contain any typographical errors.
2) The destination email address is relaying the email to a different address.
3) The USPTO cannot perform a "reverse DNS look-up" of the destination email address.
4) The destination e-mail server is blocking any email address that ends with "uspto.gov" as spam. NOTE: Email originating from "uspto.gov" may include attachments, so email from the USPTO address with attachments should not be blocked.

To help ensure that you receive mail from the USPTO, please log in to your email now and follow the listed steps to add important USPTO email addresses to your address book, contacts, and/ or "Safe Senders" list.

Remember that you may receive email messages from several Trademark addresses. Please add all of the addresses listed below. You may also receive email from an individual person's USPTO email address, e.g., johnsmith@uspto.gov.

TEAS@USPTO.GOV

TMII2455@NX.USPTO.GOV

TrademarkOfficialNotices@uspto.gov

eCom101@uspto.gov through eCom130@uspto.gov

tmng.notices@USPTO.GOV

Can I avoid formatting problems?

Simply cutting and pasting a Word or Word Perfect document into a TEAS form may cause the introduction of unwanted characters in the form and/or prevent successful validation of the form. This is especially true for heavily formatted documents. To avoid this problem, you should convert the Word or Word Perfect document to a text format. Do this using the "save as" and "save as type" features of Word or Word Perfect. There is not a problem with text that is typed directly into the form or text that was previously saved as an HTML document. If the form you are trying to use allows you to attach images as evidence, you could create JPG image(s) of heavily formatted documents and attach them to the form. A text document does not allow for complex formatting.

If I am a paralegal or a legal staff member, does my account need to be sponsored by a practicing attorney to use TEAS and TEASi?

Paralegals and legal staff don't need a sponsored account to access TEAS or TEASi at this time. We are planning future updates to the TEAS and TEASi filing system, including allowing customers to restrict or delegate access to an application or registration.

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Miscellaneous Issues

When I try to pay, why am I receiving either an error that a problem exists with the security certification for the USPTO website or being taken back to the beginning of the form?

If during the payment process for your filing you are bounced to the front page of the form or encounter an "SSL Certificate Error," you should try a browser other than IE. Or, if limited to IE, please simply try the next available browser version (for example, IE7.0 and IE8.0 are currently available for download). Or, if necessary, please review the information available at SSL Certificate Troubleshooting. This problem is not one that relates to the USPTO end, and cannot be resolved from the USPTO side.

What should I do if I experience technical difficulties when using a TEAS form?

For help in resolving technical glitches with the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), please e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov . Please include the following information: (1) your name, (2) telephone number, (3) serial number and/or registration number, (4) a description of your issue, including the name of the form you are having problems with (e.g., Response to Office Action Form, Request for Extension of Time to File a Statement of Use, etc.), and (5) a screen shot of any error message that you are receiving. You should receive a response within 2 hours if the e-mail is submitted during normal business hours. For additional information, see the TEAS Help Desk.

Why does the form say that I have attached a black-and-white drawing when my drawing is in color?

The TEAS form scans the image file you attach in various regions to determine if it is a color or black-and-white image. If there is too much white space around the design, the form cannot find the color and views the image as black and white. To fix the problem, please crop the excess white space from the image. You can also re-size the image with a graphic view, e.g., Irfanview. All images should be scanned at no less than 300 dots per inch and no more than 350 dots per inch, and within the pixel range suggested by the USPTO, namely, a length and width of no less than 250 pixels and no more than 944 pixels; e.g., a valid pixel dimension is 640 x 480 pixels. If your cropped image is not clear, do not submit the image because it may not meet the filing-date requirement for a clear drawing. Instead, you may wish to seek the assistance of a graphic artist to create the properly sized .jpg file.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Non-Traditional Marks - Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other

Does TEAS have specific standards for sound and motion files?

Yes. The file must be in an electronic file in .wav, .wmv, .wma, .mp3, .mpg, or .avi format and should not exceed 5 MB in size for audio files and 30 MB for video files because TEAS cannot accommodate larger files. The applicant should submit an audio reproduction of any sound mark or video reproduction of any motion mark. The purpose of this reproduction is to supplement and clarify the description of the mark. The reproduction should contain only the mark itself; it is not meant to be a specimen.

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Non-Traditional Marks

Can I file a new application for a sound mark through TEAS?

Yes. A new application for a sound mark can be submitted directly through TEAS. The mark file must be a WAV, WMV, WMA, or MP3 and should not exceed 5 MB in size for the audio files. Please use the below instructions to attach a sound mark file and to enter a description of the sound in the file.

At the "Mark Information" page in the new application form, use the radio button to select "Sound Mark."
Click on the "Browse" button to upload your file.
Navigate to the folder with the sound mark file.
Select the sound file and click on the "Upload File" button.
Verify the upload of the file by click on the "Sound/motion Mark" link.
Enter a description of the sound in the text box.

Can I file sound or multimedia specimens and evidence through TEAS?

Yes, all TEAS forms currently accept this type of file attachment. The file must be in .wav, .wmv, .wma, .mp3, .mpg, or .avi format and should not exceed 5 MB in size for audio files and 30 MB for video files because TEAS cannot accommodate larger files. If you have questions, please email TEAS@uspto.gov(link sends e-mail).

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Non-Traditional Marks - Other

How can I file a motion mark through TEAS?

If the mark includes motion (i.e., a repetitive motion of short duration) as a feature, the applicant may submit a drawing that depicts a single point in the movement, or the applicant may submit a square drawing that contains up to five freeze frames showing various points in the movement, whichever best depicts the commercial impression of the mark. The applicant must also submit a detailed written description of the mark. 37 C.F.R. §2.52(b)(3). Motion/multi-media marks themselves may not be submitted as a mark showing the actual motion. While this is acceptable as a "specimen," it is not permitted as a mark.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Payment, Fees, and Refunds

What is the filing fee and the USPTO refund policy?

The filing fee depends on the application filing option you select. The TEAS Plus filing option is $250 per class of goods or services, but has the strictest requirements. Detailed information on the TEAS Plus requirements can be found at TMEP §819.01. The TEAS Standard filing option is $350 per class of goods or services for applications electronically filed that do not meet the additional TEAS Plus requirements.

NOTE: If you submit a TEAS Plus application but do not satisfy those application filing requirements, you will be required to submit an additional processing fee of $100 per class of goods or services, and the application will then be handled as a TEAS Standard application.

While an application may only have one mark, it may cover multiple classes and a filing fee must be paid for each class. For example, a TEAS Plus application for a mark applied to both computer software in Class 9 and t-shirts in Class 25 would have two classes, making the filing fee $500.00 ($250 for each class).

WARNING: The filing fee is a processing fee for the application. This fee is not returned even if ultimately the USPTO does not issue a registration. You should take all necessary steps to ensure the mark is registrable before filing the application.

Although only one mark is permissible per application, a mark may consist of several elements that are joined to form a composite whole; e.g., words plus a design. You do not need to have already used your mark before filing an application. However, if the mark has not already been used in interstate commerce at the time of filing, and the application is instead based on an "intent-to-use" the mark in interstate commerce in the future, an additional fee of $100.00 per class will be required when the "Allegation of Use" form is submitted (whereas a "use-based" application does not require this additional fee).

Please see the Reduced Fee FAQs page for more information about application filing fees and the Trademark Fee Information page for information on payment options and a listing of other trademark fees.

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Payment, Fees, and Refunds

What are my payment options for an electronic filing?

Three options (credit card, automated deposit account, and Electronic Funds Transfer will appear after clicking on the PAY/SUBMIT button, which is available on the bottom of the Validation Page after completing and validating the application form. You will not specify a payment option in the Form Wizard or within the form itself.

Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Signature Issues - Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other

How do I sign a TEAS form?

The USPTO has tried to make signing an electronic form submitted through TEAS as easy as possible. The electronic forms have three signature options.

1. SIGN DIRECTLY: The individual completing the application may, if he or she so chooses, sign directly at the end of the application form. The application will not be "signed" in the sense of a traditional paper document. To verify the contents of the application, the signatory will enter any alpha/numeric character(s) or combination thereof of his or her choosing in the signature block on the application form, preceded and followed by the forward slash (/) symbol. The USPTO does not determine or pre-approve what the entry should be, but simply presumes that this specific entry has been adopted to serve the function of the signature. Most signatories simply enter their names between the two forward slashes, although acceptable "signatures" could include /john doe/; /jd/; or /123-4567/.

Note: The appropriate person (i.e., (1) a person with legal authority to bind the applicant; or (2) a person with firsthand knowledge of the facts and actual or implied authority to act on behalf of the applicant; or (3) a U.S.-licensed attorney who has an actual or implied written or verbal power of attorney from the applicant) must personally sign the form by keying in the combination of characters preceded and followed by the forward slash symbol (/) that the signatory has adopted as his or her "signature." Someone else on behalf of the proper signatory should not key this in.

2. E-MAIL TEXT FORM TO SECOND PARTY FOR SIGNATURE: Through this method, the "text form" may be e-mailed to the proper signatory as a "hyperlink" (no "downloading" of a portable form is required). The signatory will enter the signature between two forward slashes (e.g., /john smith/). The signed form is then returned to the original preparer, who can then complete the submission process to the USPTO.

To use this approach select the "E-mail Text Form to second party for signature" method in the Signature Information section. Enter the signatory's name, position, and phone number and click "Validate." At the Validation page, click the link for "Text Form for E-Signature." Next, click the link for "Send this Text Form to the authorized signatory(ies) to request e-signature(s)." The requestor should enter his/her name and e-mail address and click "Send Email."

TEAS will send the e-signature request directly back to the requestor, and then the requestor must forward the resulting e-mail to the intended signatory. With this approach, the requestor will receive any possible "undeliverable" notice, and as such, immediately be aware when a problem exists with the signatory's e-mail that requires possible correction and re-sending. All "reply" communications will be directly between the signatory and the requestor.

To sign the form, the intended signatory must click the link in the e-mail and enter the signature between two forward slashes. After completing all the mandatory fields, the requestor must click the "Sign" button to return the signed form to the originator of the request. The requestor will receive an e-mail with a "Submit" link, to allow access to the Validation page wherein the final steps of the process are completed.

Note: The form must be signed and the filing to the USPTO completed within 14 days. The clock starts running as soon as the requestor clicks "Send this Text Form to the authorized signatory(ies) to request e-signature(s)" and it is not based on when the requestor then forwards the e-mail to the intended signatory. Please also note that the period is calculated to the minute, and is not based on the "end of the day" for the 14th day (e.g., a request originated at 2:00 p.m. must be filed no later than 2:00 p.m. 14 days later. If the final submit button is clicked at 2:01 p.m., an error message will be displayed indicating that the time period for filing has expired and the entire process must then be started from the beginning). You can, however, download and save the portable form (available from the Validation Page) indefinitely.

3. HANDWRITTEN ("PEN-AND-INK") SIGNATURE: Through this method, the "text form" may be printed out and then mailed or faxed to the signatory, who will sign the form in the traditional "pen-and-ink" manner. Once the signed form has been mailed or faxed back to the preparer, this signed declaration must be scanned and re-attached as a JPG image file (the only image formats acceptable) to the original electronic application; the complete application can then be validated and filed electronically.

Note: Under this option, the original application must be saved using the Download Portable form button on the Validation Page.

Technical Information - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Other - Trademark Help - Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) - Templates

Can I create a form template for multiple filings?

Because of significant modifications to the underlying structure of the basic application, the USPTO no longer offers a blank version of the basic application form to create standard templates containing repetitive information. However, a "workaround" option still exists for creating a "template" for doing multiple filings: simply create a "dummy" form by (1) pulling up the regular TEAS form; (2) entering either an "x" for any mandatory field, or "fake" numbers where a numerical entry is required, or attaching a "dummy" image file; (3) validating this version of the form; (4) using the button on the bottom of the validation page to save the form to your local drive; (5) pulling up the saved form, and (6) entering "real" data for any field wherein an "x" was initially used as a "data placeholder." WARNING: If you create a template, and the USPTO then later upgrades the form, the saved template may not be usable for future filings, and a new template based on the upgraded version of the form may have to be created.