PRESS RELEASE Contact: Brigid Quinn 703-305-8341 brigid.quinn@uspto.gov December 6, 2002 #02-72 Documents in Trademark Disputes Can Be Filed Online USPTO launches first phase of electronic filing system for trademark disputes The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week began accepting Internet filings for initial extensions of time in cases challenging federal registration of trademarks. The Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals (ESTTA) also allows parties to file case-related documents not requiring fees by email. ESTTA immediately sends e-mail receipts when documents are filed, and approvals for extension of time requests are normally sent by e-mail within two business days. “As we continue to expand our electronic services, quality improves and our processes are simpler, faster, and more efficient, allowing us to be more responsive to the needs of our customers,” noted James E. Rogan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. Last month, the TTAB--an administrative tribunal that hears and decides appeals and adversarial proceedings involving trademark registrations--fully implemented a comprehensive electronic workflow system for processing all incoming and outgoing documents electronically. Proceedings before the TTAB are time-driven and filings are time-sensitive. ESTTA provides state-of-the-art tools to help litigants meet the TTAB’s strictly-enforced time limits. ESTTA can be accessed at: http://estta.uspto.gov. E-mail filings should be sent to: TTAB.Efiling@uspto.gov. # # #