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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Agreed, though given that we’ve been out of lockdown for several years I don’t think the PTO will simply rubber stamp any COVID-related claim—not that they ever really did so, even in the height of the pandemic.
I haven’t seen any formal guidance from the PTO since 2021 on it: <a href="https://www.uspto.gov/subscription-center/2021/maintenance-filings-covid-19-and-excusable-nonuse">
https://www.uspto.gov/subscription-center/2021/maintenance-filings-covid-19-and-excusable-nonuse</a>. There’s a full list of COVID related PTO posts here, looks like nothing has happened for a couple of years:
<a href="https://www.uspto.gov/coronavirus">https://www.uspto.gov/coronavirus</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0F172E">Kevin Grierson</span></b><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"remialcxesans",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"template-5QSGLunPEem16QANOhMLNA",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"zone-1",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"zones-AQ",serif;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0F172E"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:gray"><a href="http://www.culhanemeadows.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;color:#0F172E;text-decoration:none">CULHANE</span><span style="color:#0F172E;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;color:#0F172E;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none">PLLC</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri \(Body\)";color:gray"> <a href="mailto:kgrierson@cm.law" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray;text-decoration:none">kgrierson@cm.law</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>mrichter richtertrademarks.com via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 10, 2024 4:29 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> mrichter richtertrademarks.com <mrichter@richtertrademarks.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] COVID as basis for claim of excusable non-use of mark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:white">EXTERNAL EMAIL<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Jessica,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If a business is still dealing with the effects of the pandemic, my opinion is that it is a legitimate excuse and should be approved. Think of it the same as a non-pandemic related excuse.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Keep us posted!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Best, </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Miriam </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black">Miriam Richter, Attorney at Law, P.L.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:#4F81BD">Make Your Mark!</span></i><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#4F81BD"> ®</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black">Trademark, Copyright, and other Intellectual Property Matters</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black">2312 Wilton Drive, Suite 9<br>
Wilton Manors, Florida 33305</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"DellaRobbia BT";color:black">954-977-4711 office<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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954-977-4717 facsimile</span><span style="font-family:"Palatino Linotype",serif;color:black"><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jessica R. Friedman via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, April 10, 2024 4:25 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Jessica R. Friedman <<a href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] COVID as basis for claim of excusable non-use of mark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0A2F41">No takers?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0A2F41"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Jessica R. Friedman</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Attorney at Law<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">New York, NY 10022</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Phone: 212-220-0900</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Cell: 917-647-1884</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">E-mail:</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:blue"> <u><a href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com" title="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</span></a></u></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">URL: </span><u><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:blue"><a href="http://www.literarypropertylaw.com/" title="http://www.literarypropertylaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.literarypropertylaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:blue"><img border="0" width="184" height="72" style="width:1.9166in;height:.75in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image005.png@01DA8B65.04E0CC90" alt="1479430908386_PastedImage"></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">From:
</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black">Jessica R. Friedman <<a href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</a>><br>
<b>Date: </b>Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 11:55 AM<br>
<b>To: </b>For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject: </b>COVID as basis for claim of excusable non-use of mark<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0A2F41">Is the PTO still accepting COVID as a basis for a claim of acceptable non-use? I can’t find any post-2021 announcements about this or anything in the TMEP that specifically refers
to this question.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0A2F41"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0A2F41"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Jessica R. Friedman</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Attorney at Law</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">300 East 59 Street, Ste. 2406</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">New York, NY 10022</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Phone: 212-220-0900</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">Cell: 917-647-1884</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#003366">E-mail:</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:blue"> <u><a href="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com" title="mailto:jrfriedman@litproplaw.com"><span style="color:#0563C1">jrfriedman@litproplaw.com</span></a></u></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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