January 26, 2001

The Trademark weekly data files are migrating to an XML format in early 2001 and will consist of the following three products:

• Weekly Pending and Registered Trademark Information (document type TRAM_CASE_FILEs)
• Weekly Trademark Assignment Information (document type TMRK_ASSIGNMENTS)
• Weekly Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Information (document type TTAB_PROCEEDINGS)

To assist in the transition to the XML products, the USPTO will schedule parallel runs of the current Trademark weekly data files and the new XML Trademark weekly data files. Parallel runs for both the Weekly Trademark Assignment Information, and the Weekly Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Information were initiated in December 2000. However problems with the TRAM++ extract has delayed the parallel run for the Weekly Pending and Registered Trademark Information, and the start date has yet to be defined. Since all three files are needed for testing, parallel runs will continue for a three month period after all 3 files are available.

The USPTO anticipates several revisions to the DTDs prior to the final migration to XML. The documentation, DTDs, sample data, and Frequently Asked Questions describing current migration issues are available at URL http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/sgml/st32/trademark/index.html .

If you have any questions please notify me at ed.johnson@uspto.gov.

Thanks,