<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">I did ask the USPTO office about this. For the sake of completeness, I am pasting in below my inquiries to the USPTO, along with its responses seeking to justify its violation of the rules. </div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:small">Tim Ackermann</div><div style="font-size:small">The Ackermann Law Firm</div><div style="font-size:small"><u><b>Inquiry 1:</b></u></div><div style="font-size:small"><div> This is a result of the recent "<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:14px">data security incident that impacted domicile information in certain trademark application data made available between August 23, 2023, and April 19, 2024</span>". The USPTO email I got is below. </div><div> I have seen an email that tells me that, at the same time I was notified by the USPTO, it also notified one of my clients directly (well, at least one). The USPTO notified my client by using the email that it has demanded clients include in the applicant information. That's the only way it had that email and had it tied to the relevant applications. What I do not understand is why the USPTO is violating its own rules to do so? </div><div><div> This notice concerned a pending application. The USPTO notification email should ONLY have come to me. I am counsel of record; I filed the application and thus am 'recognized' under R. 2.17(b). I am the only correspondent and the correspondence emails only come to me. The USPTO should not have contacted the client directly, because the USPTO is required by Rule 2.18 to "only" correspond with that recognized attorney, except under circumstances that do not apply (e.g. recognition is improper or has ended). <br></div><div> Can you please explain this violation of the Regulations? </div></div></div><div style="font-size:small"><u><b>Response 1:</b></u></div><div style="font-size:small"><p style="margin:0in"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Thank you for your question. Section 2.18 of our rules of practice concerns an application or registration proceeding and does not apply to notices like the data security incident notice. We determined that sending the notice to the owner addresses is the best way to ensure the notice is received by the affected parties.</span></p></div><div style="font-size:small"><b><u>Inquiry 2:</u></b></div><div style="font-size:small"><div dir="ltr">Where, in a statute or regulation, does the USPTO get the authority to exclude correspondence from the USPTO to applicants from the requirements imposed by the Federal Regulations?Rule 2.18 merely concerns "correspondence" -- it does not limit itself to the legal proceeding itself nor is it limited to "actions" by the USPTO. It says nothing about excluding "incident notices" or other correspondence the USPTO might prefer to exempt from the Rule. Moreover, this position is inconsistent with the USPTO's statement in 2019 when it changed the rules to require email addresses. It said:</div><div dir="ltr"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">The USPTO does not undertake double correspondence with both the applicant or registrant and the attorney of record. Accordingly, if an applicant or registrant is represented by an attorney, the USPTO corresponds and conducts business only with the attorney. [<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/31/2019-16259/changes-to-the-trademark-rules-of-practice-to-mandate-electronic-filing" target="_blank">https://www.federalregister.gov/</a> at 37088]</blockquote></div></div><div style="font-size:small"><b><u>Response 2:</u></b></div><div style="font-size:small"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Aptos,Aptos_EmbeddedFont,Aptos_MSFontService,Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px">It is not in conflict with our rules, nor is it unusual, for the USPTO to communicate directly with customers on matters that are outside the representation of their legal counsel. For instance, a customer who is represented by an attorney may communicate directly with the USPTO about administrative matters pertaining to that customer, such as details concerning their USPTO.gov account, stored fee payment information, and other matters related to the management of their personal information in USPTO systems. They also may communicate directly with the FOIA Office about filing a FOIA request or the Office of Enrollment and Discipline about filing a grievance. Because this is closely connected to the management of their personal information in USPTO systems, and has no bearing on the prosecution of the application or registration, this falls within the ambit of the Office’s authority to communicate directly with customers on these types of issues regardless of representation. This is supported by the fact that the communication comes from the CIO, and not the Commissioner for Trademarks.</span><br></div><p><font face="verdana, sans-serif" size="1"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">E:  <a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a></span><br><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">P:  817.305.0690</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">F:  214.453.0810</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">W: <a href="http://ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">ackermannlaw.com</a></span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100</span><br>
<span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial">     Grapevine TX 76051</span></font></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Mon, May 13, 2024 at 10:23 AM Kevin Grierson <kgrierson@cm.law> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-4443791858421828848">





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<p class="MsoNormal">You’re not missing anything.  The PTO is behaving like a rogue agency that doesn’t need to follow its own rules (or the APA, for that matter), because the courts have been unwilling to hold it accountable in that regard. 
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,23,46)">Kevin Grierson</span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:remialcxesans;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:template-5QSGLunPEem16QANOhMLNA;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:zone-1;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-size:1pt;font-family:zones-AQ;color:white"></span></b><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(15,23,46)"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:gray">  <a href="tel:757-726-7799" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray">757-726-7799</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:gray">  <a><span style="color:gray">866-521-5663</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;color:gray">  <a href="mailto:kgrierson@cm.law" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray">kgrierson@cm.law</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> E-trademarks <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Tim Ackermann via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 13, 2024 10:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Carl Oppedahl <<a href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Tim Ackermann <<a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Notice of Data Security Incident<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:white">EXTERNAL EMAIL<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">And... it gets worse. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> At the same time the USPTO notified me, it also notified (at least) one of my clients. This was a client whose required chosen email address is one that goes to them. 
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<p class="MsoNormal">I, of course, have no idea my client got this information (until asked about it).<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> This is a pending application. Why would a client have received any communication from the USPTO on this? I am counsel of record; I filed the application and thus am 'recognized' under R. 2.17(b). I am the only correspondent. The USPTO
 should not have contacted the client directly, because the USPTO is required by Rule 2.18 to "only" correspond with that attorney except under circumstances that do not apply (e.g. recognition is improper or has ended). <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> Or am I missing something here? <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> Sincerely, <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tim Ackermann<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Ackermann Law Firm<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">E:  <a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
P:  817.305.0690<br>
F:  214.453.0810<br>
W: <a href="http://ackermannlaw.com/" target="_blank">ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100<br>
     Grapevine TX 76051</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 1:30<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span>PM Tim Ackermann <<a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">FYI - the Office disclosed domicile information (again, I think). Then it says this:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You are receiving this notice because your email address is listed as the contact for the trademark owner in at least one of these applications. There is no action you need to take with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),
 but in the interest of full transparency, we are bringing this matter to your attention. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> "Full transparency" evidently does not include telling me WHOSE domicile information the Office failed to protect.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tim<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tim Ackermann<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Ackermann Law Firm<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Verdana,sans-serif">E:  <a href="mailto:tim@ackermannlaw.com" target="_blank">tim@ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
P:  817.305.0690<br>
F:  214.453.0810<br>
W: <a href="http://ackermannlaw.com/" target="_blank">ackermannlaw.com</a><br>
O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100<br>
     Grapevine TX 76051</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>
From: <strong><span style="font-family:Aptos,sans-serif">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office</span></strong> <<a href="mailto:subscriptioncenter@subscriptions.uspto.gov" target="_blank">subscriptioncenter@subscriptions.uspto.gov</a>><br>
Date: Tue, May 7, 2024 at 1:16<span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span>PM<br>
Subject: Notice of Data Security Incident<br>
To: <u></u><u></u></p>
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<span style="font-size:16.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Notice of Data Security Incident<u></u><u></u></span></h2>
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<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Dear valued customer, <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">We recently identified a data security incident that impacted domicile information in certain trademark application data made available between August 23, 2023, and April 19, 2024.
 You are receiving this notice because your email address is listed as the contact for the trademark owner in at least one of these applications. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">There is no action you need to take with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), but in the interest of full transparency, we are bringing this matter to your attention. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<h3 style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">What happened and what information was involved? <u></u><u></u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">U.S. trademark law requires applicants to include their domicile addresses in trademark applications. This helps us determine if applicants are required to hire a U.S.-licensed attorney
 to represent them before our agency (called the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnVzcHRvLmdvdi90cmFkZW1hcmtzL2xhd3MvdHJhZGVtYXJrLXJ1bGUtcmVxdWlyZXMtZm9yZWlnbi1hcHBsaWNhbnRzLWFuZC1yZWdpc3RyYW50cy1oYXZlLXVzP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1zdWJzY3JpcHRpb25jZW50ZXImdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX25hbWU9JnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkmdXRtX3Rlcm09IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDUwNy45NDQ0NDU0MSJ9.58SI_D6d9vFd-QBeOLn3g5kVWrR0AzgNl590e31YpOU/s/3003983680/br/242027980700-l" target="_blank">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,238)">U.S. counsel rule</span></a>). The U.S. counsel rule is an important tool in combatting fraudulent trademark filing activity. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">On April 19, 2024, we discovered there were domicile addresses that should have been hidden from public view but which were inadvertently exposed as we transitioned to a new IT system.
 These addresses appeared in records that could have been retrieved through a bulk data set on our website. This data set is typically used in academic and economic research.  <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">At no point were the impacted domicile addresses visible when users searched trademark records through our search system or our trademark documents database. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Importantly, this incident was not the result of malicious activity, and we have no reason to believe that your domicile information has been misused. Nevertheless, we take all data
 security concerns seriously, and we’ve implemented corrective measures.  <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">How we addressed the issue <u></u><u></u></span></h3>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">When we discovered the issue, we blocked access to the impacted bulk data set, removed files, implemented a patch to fix the exposure, tested our solution, and re-enabled access. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Moving forward <u></u><u></u></span></h3>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">We’re committed to data security and are taking steps to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future. We sincerely regret this error and are updating our process for creating
 and publishing bulk data files. Additional testing, spot checks, and process improvements will help us ensure domicile addresses in the bulk data are properly masked going forward.   <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:13pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">For more information <u></u><u></u></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">We will not send additional notices or communications regarding this incident. If you’re contacted about the incident by anyone you believe is impersonating the USPTO, or if you have
 any questions or concerns, please contact <a href="mailto:TMdomicile@uspto.gov" target="_blank">
<span style="color:rgb(0,0,238)">TMdomicile@uspto.gov</span></a>. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Sincerely, <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="206" height="86" style="width: 2.1458in; height: 0.8958in;" id="m_-4443791858421828848_x0000_i1062" src="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USPTO/2023/03/7300865/jamie-holcombe-signature_original.jpg" alt="Jamie Holcombe pen signature"><u></u><u></u></p>
<p style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Henry “Jamie” Holcombe<br>
Chief Information Officer <br>
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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