Identity verification for trademark filers

Identity verification helps us deter bad actors who make fraudulent trademark filings and scam our customers. It’s part of our ongoing initiative to strengthen the security of our trademark filing process and protect the integrity of the U.S. trademark register. 

In 2019, we began requiring anyone accessing TEAS or TEASi to be logged in to a USPTO.gov account. Identity verification builds on that requirement by ensuring that account holders are who they say they are. It also lays the groundwork for future enhancements that will allow verified account holders to control and delegate access to their filings and prevent unauthorized changes.

You must verify your identity if you're a:

• Trademark owner or corporate officer not represented by an attorney
• U.S.-licensed attorney, including in-house counsel
• Canadian attorney or agent

You must be sponsored by a verified attorney if you're:  

• A paralegal
• Other support staff working for an attorney

Paralegals or support staff can’t use the electronic or paper verification processes. Instead, your sponsoring attorney will verify your identity. You must have a USPTO.gov account before you can be sponsored. See the sponsorship section for more information.

Who doesn’t need to verify their identity?

In general, if you need to file or edit data in TEAS or TEASi forms, you must be logged in with an ID-verified USPTO.gov account. However, there are some situations where verification isn’t required:

• If the USPTO has previously verified your identity during the patent application process, you don’t need to verify again, but you may need to select a trademark filing role if we’re unable to automatically determine it.
• If you’re a trademark owner represented by an attorney, you currently do not need to verify your identity to electronically sign forms that your attorney sends for your signature. However, you’ll need to verify your identity to file once attorney representation ends. 

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Using ID.me to verify your identity as a trademark filer

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Using ID.me to verify your identity as a trademark filer

You’ll verify your identity online through ID.me, which meets NIST’s 800-63-3 guidelines for Identity Assurance Level 2. In most cases, this takes less than 15 minutes.

As part of the process, you’ll create an account with ID.me if you don’t already have one. If you have an existing ID.me account, you must use that.

Watch the video to the right for a demonstration of the USPTO's online identity verification option through ID.me.

The USPTO-specific ID.me page addresses many issues you may encounter during the ID.me process, and the ID.me privacy bill of rights explains how you are in complete control of your data during this process.

What you'll need

In addition to a USPTO.gov account, you'll need:

• A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a front-facing camera and an internet connection. If using a webcam-equipped computer, please review ID.me's instructions for taking a selfie using a webcam.
• A government-issued photo ID with the name identical to the name on your USPTO.gov account. If they don’t match, the name on your USPTO.gov account will be automatically updated to match your ID.   

ID.me will ask you for the following information, which won’t be shared with the USPTO:

• Your Social Security number, which ensures your account can’t be duplicated.
• Biometric data in the form of a selfie and photo ID, used to verify your identity. 
• Permission to access your credit profile in order to perform a soft credit check. Your credit score won't be affected.

ID.me uses this information solely to verify that you are who you say you are and prevent your account from being duplicated by anyone attempting to impersonate you. ID.me uses secure technology and federally compliant information protection practices to safeguard your data. You can view or change your privacy settings online at any time.

The USPTO does not receive any personally identifiable information from ID.me other than your name. 

Your ID.me account is only used to verify your identity, and the USPTO doesn’t require you to maintain it after that. However, in the future if you want to change your legal name or make certain other changes to your USPTO.gov account, you’ll need an active ID.me account to confirm the changes.

Selecting your filing role

Your filing role tells us how you use our filing system and what verification options you need. If you've filed trademark forms in the past, then you've already selected one of these roles within the TEAS form, and you can select the same role for identity verification.

• A trademark owner can file anything they need to on their own applications and registrations if they are unrepresented, or they can appoint an attorney to handle these matters for them.
• A U.S.-licensed attorney can file all documents for their clients and can also sponsor support staff and paralegals to work under their supervision.
• A Canadian attorney/agent can file certain, permitted documents for their clients and can also sponsor support staff and paralegals to work under their supervision.
• A support staff member can assist with filing documents for clients, but needs to be sponsored by a verified attorney to do so.

Completing the verification process

To complete the ID verification process, follow these basic instructions:

1. Log in to your USPTO.gov account
2. Go to the Trademark account ID verification page by selecting any TEAS form link
3. Choose your filing role
4. Select “Verify with ID.me” and follow the prompts on ID.me to verify your identity

See the ID.me website for step-by-step instructions on verifying with a driver's license or state ID or verifying with a passport.  

In the event that ID.me can't automatically verify your identity with the information you provide, you may be prompted to continue in a short video call where you will be required to show your physical documents, called a Trusted Referee session. After the session, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to share your verification status with the USPTO. You must follow the instructions to complete the identity verification process and maintain access to our filing system.

The Trademark sponsorship tool allows verified attorneys to sponsor paralegals and support staff to submit and edit documents on their behalf in TEAS and TEASi. Using the sponsorship tool, verified attorneys, paralegals, and support staff can manage their sponsorship requests, view sponsorship history, and more.

Before using the sponsorship tool, attorneys must be verified, and their sponsored paralegals and support staff must have USPTO.gov accounts.

Paralegals and support staff can’t use the electronic or paper verification processes. Instead, their sponsoring attorney verifies their identity at the time of sponsorship.

For a complete list of sponsorship functions and directions, see the Trademark sponsorship tool guide. For in-depth information on sponsorship verification requirements, see the Trademark Filing System Access Document.

 We offer an alternative paper verification process for attorneys and trademark owners who choose not to verify electronically. The paper verification form must be notarized before mailing to the USPTO. Review the instructions for completing the paper verification form and follow these main steps:

1. Download and complete the paper ID verification form
2. Present two forms of government identification to a notary public
3. Mail the original, notarized form (no faxes or copies) to:

Mail Stop EBC
Commissioner for Trademarks
P.O. Box 1451
Alexandria, VA 22313-1451

Expect two to three weeks processing time. We recommend not waiting until after the April 9, 2022, deadline to verify by paper, as it will delay your ability to file electronically.

As with the electronic verification process, the name listed on your USPTO.gov account must be identical to the one on your submitted paper ID verification form. Processing will be delayed if the names don’t match exactly, and you’ll be asked to modify your USPTO.gov account name to match the name on the verification form.

In this webinar on December 14, 2021, we provided an overview of identity verification and its specific requirements, including electronic and paper verification processes, filing roles, and attorney sponsorship. The webinar also including an extensive question and answer period.

You can download the presentation slides as a PDF.

What if I’m not ready to verify yet?

Select the “Skip for now and continue to forms” button on the right side of the Trademark Identity Verification webpage (the webpage you are directed to when you try to access a TEAS or TEASi form) and proceed as usual. Starting April 9, 2022, you will need a verified USPTO.gov account to file using TEAS or TEASi. Try to verify your account well before any filing deadlines. We can’t make exceptions to statutory filing deadlines for customers unable to access TEAS or TEASi because their accounts were not verified.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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, EFS-Web and 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.  
 

I’m having issues with my ID.me account setup or completing the ID.me verification process.

Check the USPTO & ID.me help page for general questions about the verification process. If you’re still having issues setting up your account or completing the verification process, you can submit a request for support to ID.me. The USPTO will work with ID.me customer service to make sure our trademark customers’ identity verification problems are resolved.

What time of day can I access electronic verification?

You can electronically verify your identity 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you can’t complete the automated verification process and are routed to a video call with an ID.me Trusted Referee, there may be a wait time depending on call volume.

How long will it take to verify my identity using the paper verification form?

We anticipate an initial processing time of 2 to 3 weeks after we receive your paper form. Before April 9, you can skip verification as you wait for your form to be processed. To ensure there are no additional delays, review the instructions for completing the paper verification form. Starting April 9, you must wait until your paper form is processed before you can access TEAS or TEASi. If you’re facing any deadlines, consider using the electronic verification method instead.

How will I know when processing is complete?

We’ll send a confirmation to your USPTO.gov account’s primary email address when your paper form verification is complete. We’ll also notify you if there is any issue that requires further attention. Unfortunately we can’t offer detailed tracking information or expedited service at this time.

Who can notarize the paper form in the United States?

Notaries commissioned by and operating in any state, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia can notarize documents in person. Remote online notarization is not permitted at this time.

What is my role?

The following roles are available: trademark owner, Canadian attorney/agent, U.S.-licensed attorney, and attorney support staff. If you’re not sure what your role is after reading the existing instructions, skip identity verification for now. We’re working on detailed guidance that will clarify the roles and answer the more-nuanced questions some of our customers have. We’ll post additional information about each role well before the mandatory requirement for identity verification on April 9, 2022. 

How do I get sponsored?

After your supervising attorney verifies their own identity, they can use the Trademark sponsorship tool to sponsor you. You must have a USPTO.gov account and provide your sponsoring attorney with the email associated with it. Your supervising attorney can then sponsor you in less than a minute. Ensure that the name in your USPTO.gov account is up-to-date and accurate or your supervising attorney may not be able to sponsor you.

Should all the attorneys I work with sponsor me, or is just one enough?

All verified attorneys who are supervising your work should sponsor you because they are responsible for your work. Though you will be able to access TEAS or TEASi after just one attorney sponsors you, if that attorney withdraws their sponsorship, you’ll lose access to TEAS or TEASi and be unable to work on behalf of other attorneys until they sponsor you.

How do I use the Trademark sponsorship tool?

Only verified attorneys and their support staff can use the Trademark sponsorship tool. Attorney support staff will not be able to access it until at least one attorney has verified their identity by sponsoring them. After verification, you can view and manage your sponsorships in the tool. Consult the Trademark sponsorship tool guide for detailed information and examples.

How can I get help with my USPTO.gov account or verifying my account using any method other than ID.me?

Send any questions by email to TEAS@uspto.gov.

How can I get help with ID.me?

If you’re having difficulty specific to the ID.me verification process and require assistance, you may be able to solve the problem by video conferencing with an ID.me Trusted Referee. If that doesn’t work, please open an ID.me support ticket using the following steps: 

1. Visit the ID.me help page
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select “Submit a request”
3. Provide the email address that you used to register With Id.me
4. From the “How can we help you?” dropdown, select “I Need Help Getting Verified”
5. Select “United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)” in the “What verification are you completing?” dropdown
6. Add a description of the issue you’re running into. You can attach files, such as screenshots of any error messages
7. Submit your request

An ID.me Member Support Representative will reach out to you via email to help you resolve your issue. If you do not hear back from ID.me in 24 hours, please email them again and notify the USPTO.