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<p>Note, by the way, that there is a listserv dedicated to Madrid
Protocol. See
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/madrid_oppedahl-lists.com">https://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/madrid_oppedahl-lists.com</a>
.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">The US joined the Madrid system in
2003. Shortly after that, the USPTO sort of got egg on its face a
few times by snoozing through the 18 months and only later
figuring out that it wished it had mailed out a refusal.</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">And maybe even more embarrassing, the
USPTO would publish a case for opposition and the 18 months would
run out and then somebody would file opposition, and the USPTO
would realize that it cannot do anything other than grant the
registration. And the opposer was told that their proceeding had
evaporated. <br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">So after several highly embarrassing
incidents, the USPTO programmed some computer to automatically
generate a document a few days before the expiry of the 18 months,
and send the document automatically to the IB. The document sort
of says "dear Madrid applicant, we are telling you now that you
can't count on the automatic protection that would normally happen
at 18 months. This piece of paper warns you that anything could
happen now and you might not get a registration. Maybe somebody
will file opposition, maybe the Examiner will belatedly think of a
reason to mail out a refusal."</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">So now if you look in any 79-series
case, you (nearly always) will see such a document being sent to
the IB before the end of the 18 months.<br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix"><br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 11/17/2023 8:26 AM, Katherine
Markert via E-trademarks wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:DS0PR12MB80692E723E5960061C3AC0C4A5B7A@DS0PR12MB8069.namprd12.prod.outlook.com">
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<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Hi
All,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Has
anyone had experience with the USPTO failing to issue a
refusal against a 66(a) application within the 18-month
period (relevant sections of TMEP pasted below)? I am
curious to know if the USPTO tried to issue an Office Action
after expiration of the 18-month period. If the USPTO fails
to act within the required time, does the USPTO actually
move the application on to publication (without resolving
the “refusals”)? I am looking to get an understanding for
how the rule is carried out in actual practice. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div
style="border:none;border-bottom:solid #9E0B00 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 2.0pt 0in">
<h1
style="mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span
style="font-size:17.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#00396D">1904.02(g)
Refusal Must Be Made Within 18 Months <o:p></o:p></span></h1>
</div>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-3d139e2632">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Under
§68(c) of the Trademark Act and Article 5(2) of the
Protocol, the USPTO must notify the IB of any refusal
entered in a §66(a) application within 18 months of the date
the IB transmits the request for extension of protection to
the USPTO. <i>See</i> <b><a
href="https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TMEP/current#/current/TMEP-1900d1e1322.html"
moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="color:#008CFF">TMEP
§1904.03(a)</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-4d139e2638">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">The
Trademark database tracks the period of time within which
the USPTO must notify the IB of a refusal of protection.
This information appears in the §66(a) international
registration data field "Auto Protection Date." If a
refusal is not received by the IB as of this date, the mark
receives automatic protection under Article 5(5) of the
Protocol.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div
style="border:none;border-bottom:solid #9E0B00 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 2.0pt 0in">
<h1
style="mso-margin-top-alt:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.75pt;margin-left:0in;background:white">
<span
style="font-size:17.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#00396D">1904.03(a)
Notice Must Be Sent Within 18 Months <o:p></o:p></span></h1>
</div>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-3d139e2812">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">Within
18 months of the date the IB forwards a request for
extension of protection, the USPTO must transmit:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:3.75pt;line-height:15.6pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(1) A
notification of refusal based on examination;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:3.75pt;line-height:15.6pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(2) A
notification of refusal based on the filing of an
opposition; or<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"
style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:3.75pt;line-height:15.6pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">(3) A
notification of the possibility that an opposition may be
filed after expiration of the 18-month period. If the
USPTO notifies the IB of the possibility of opposition, it
must send the notification of refusal within 7 months
after the beginning of the opposition period, or within
one month after the end of opposition period, whichever is
earlier.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-5d139e2841">
<b><span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a
href="https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TFSR/current#/current/sec-25e021ff-877e-48af-992d-5593a18d7808.html"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#008CFF">15 U.S.C. §1141h(c)</span></a></span></b><span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">;
Article 5.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-6d139e2844">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">If
the USPTO does not send a notification of refusal of the
request for extension of protection to the IB within 18
months, the request for extension of protection cannot be
refused. <b><a
href="https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TFSR/current#/current/sec-25e021ff-877e-48af-992d-5593a18d7808.html"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#008CFF">15 U.S.C. §1141h(c)(4)</span></a></b>;
Article 5(5); Regs. Rules 17(2)(iv), 18(1)(a)(iii). If the
USPTO sends a notification of refusal, no grounds of refusal
other than those set forth in the notice can be raised more
than 18 months after the date on which the IB forwards the
request for extension of protection to the USPTO. <b><a
href="https://tmep.uspto.gov/RDMS/TFSR/current#/current/sec-25e021ff-877e-48af-992d-5593a18d7808.html"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><span
style="color:#008CFF">15 U.S.C. §1141h(c)(3)</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="annotate-ok"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt;background:white;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px"
id="TMEP-ch-1900-7d139e2848">
<span
style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333">If
upon re-examination the examining attorney determines a new
ground of refusal exists that should have been raised in the
first Office action, a second Office action raising this new
ground may be issued only if time remains in the 18-month
period. In such a case, the examining attorney must ensure
that a notification of the new ground of refusal is sent to
the IB.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#385623">Katie
Markert<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Partner<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:4.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">Markert
& Cominolli PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">Phone:</span></b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt">585-504-2507 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">Email:</span></b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><a
href="mailto:km@markertcominolli.com"
moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-freetext">km@markertcominolli.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">Web:</span></b><span
style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#385623">
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><a
href="http://www.markertcominolli.com/"
moz-do-not-send="true">www.markertcominolli.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt">75 S.
Clinton Ave., Suite 510, Rochester, NY 14604<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Bierstadt Display",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a
href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinemarkert"
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style="font-size:4.0pt;font-family:"Bierstadt Display",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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