(168)                      Expansion of Pilot for
                 Electronic Filing of Trademark Applications 

On November 30, 1997, the Trademark Organization and the Office of the
Chief Information Officer of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)
introduced TEAS (Trademark Electronic Application System), a pilot
program that allows selected PTO customers to submit trademark
applications electronically. On or after October 1, 1998, the PTO will
expand the pilot to allow participation by all trademark filers.

The TEAS pilot will continue to be limited to applications filed under
Sections 1(a), 1(b) and 44(d) of the Trademark Act. Applications based
on Section 44(e) of the Act may not be submitted using the TEAS system,
because of the added complexity involved in the transmission and receipt
of documents certifying registration in an applicant's country of origin.

Requirements for Participation: Trademark filers who wish to submit
applications using the TEAS system must own or have use of the
following: (1) a personal computer and (2) a specified computer network
browser. Access to a scanner or digital camera for creating digitized
images in gif or jpg format will be necessary for the submission of
specimens required for applications filed under Section 1(a), and/or for
the submission of special form drawings that feature figurative elements
for filings under any Section of the Trademark Act. It is expected that
on or after October 1, 1998, the TEAS system will be configured to allow
filers to charge the filing fees associated with their submissions to
various credit card accounts. However, if upgrades to the system that
would allow credit card payments have not been completed by October 1,
1998, then filers wishing to submit applications using the TEAS system
must maintain a deposit account with the PTO, to allow payment of the
required filing fees.

Before the application is submitted electronically, the applicant must
print and personally sign and date a paper version of the application in
permanent ink, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. 1.4(d). Applicants who submit
applications electronically must also execute a verified statement,
signed and dated by the applicant in permanent ink, stating that: (1)
the information in the electronic submission is identical to the
information in the paper application; and that (2) the applicant has
adopted the symbol shown in the signature block on the electronic
application to verify the contents of the application. These two
documents should not be forwarded to the PTO, but should be retained by
the applicant or the applicant' s representative.

Duration: It is anticipated that the pilot project will be in place for
six months. However, this period may be extended if necessary. It is
expected that upon conclusion of the pilot project, the Office will
accept electronically filed applications as part of its regular
business. It is also expected that the scope of the electronic filing
project will be expanded to allow the electronic submission of documents
other than applications for the registration of trademarks and service
marks.

For the purpose of this pilot only, the following requirements are
waived, effective October 1, 1998.

                                  Rule 1.1(a)
The requirement of 37 CFR 1.1(a) that communications intended for the
Patent and Trademark Office must be mailed to the street address of the
Office is waived.

                                 Rule 2.51(e)
The requirement of 37 CFR 2.51(e) that an application for the
registration of a mark that can be represented in typewritten form
include a drawing of the mark in typed capital letters on a separate
sheet of paper complying with the requirements of Section 2.52 is waived.

                            Rules 2.52(b) & 2.52(c)
The requirements of 37 CFR 2.52(b) and (c) that drawings must be made on
paper is waived.

                             Rules 2.56 & 2.58(a)
The requirement of 37 CFR 2.56 and 37 CFR 2.58(a) that applications
under Section l(a) of the Act include three specimens of the trademark
or service mark as used on or in connection with the goods or services
in commerce is waived. Instead, applicants who wish to submit
applications electronically must file only one specimen of the trademark
or service mark as used on or in connection with the goods or services
in commerce.

Point of Contact for this Notice:

Name: Craig Morris
Telephone number: (703) 308-8910 ext. 36
Fax number: (703) 308-9395
e-mail: craig.morris@uspto.gov

Mailing Address:
Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks
Suite 10B10
2900 Crystal Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22202-3513

September 25, 1998                                     PHILIP G. HAMPTON II
                                                     Assistant Commissioner
                                                             for Trademarks

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