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    <p>Hello Janice.  Thank you for posting.  I have just now raised
      these issues to the Commissioner.  You will soon see a listserv
      posting on this.<br>
    </p>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 7/16/2024 10:40 AM, Janice Housey
      via E-trademarks wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:SN4P222MB04647A86A2E1556004C56172A2A22@SN4P222MB0464.NAMP222.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM">
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        <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">I strongly
            recommend that these issues get raised to the Commissioner. 
            <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" style="background:white"><b><i><span
style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
                  lang="DE">Janice Housey</span></i></b><span
style="color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE"> </span><span
              style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Sylfaen",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE">Litmus Law PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Sylfaen",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Sylfaen",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE">4 Weems Lane #240<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Sylfaen",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE">Winchester, Virginia 22601</span><span
style="color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Sylfaen",serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE">703.957.5274 office<br>
              703.851.6737 cell</span><span
              style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span
style="color:black;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><span
              style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
          <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE"><br>
              ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATION<br>
              This communication is subject to the attorney-client
              privilege of confidentiality, and is intended only for the
              identified recipient.  If you have received this message
              in error, please contact the sender and destroy all
              copies, hard and electronic, in your possession.  Thank
              you.</span><span
style="color:#B02525;background:white;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"
              lang="DE"> </span><span
              style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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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 class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
                <b>On Behalf Of </b>Laura A. Genovese via E-trademarks<br>
                <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 16, 2024 12:33 PM<br>
                <b>To:</b> For trademark practitioners. This is not for
                laypersons to seek legal advice.
                <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"><e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
                <b>Cc:</b> Laura A. Genovese
                <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lgenovese@kassgen.com"><lgenovese@kassgen.com></a>;
                <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:charles.b.kramer@gmail.com">charles.b.kramer@gmail.com</a><br>
                <b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Mark not examined in
                over three years: OR Franz Kafka's Secret Trademark
                Office<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:"Times New Roman",serif">Our
            office has a case in the exact same situation – a 3+ year
            old application blocking us and no examiner has yet been
            assigned. I followed the same path you did with the same
            result. Curious to know if anyone else knows why there are
            ancient applications that still haven’t been assigned to an
            examiner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal"><span
            style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
        <div>
          <div
style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
            <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"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
                <b>On Behalf Of </b>Charles B. Kramer via E-trademarks<br>
                <b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 16, 2024 12:23 PM<br>
                <b>To:</b> <a
                  href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
                <b>Cc:</b> Charles B. Kramer <<a
                  href="mailto:charlesbkramer.tm@gmail.com"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">charlesbkramer.tm@gmail.com</a>>;
                <a href="mailto:charles.b.kramer@gmail.com"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">charles.b.kramer@gmail.com</a><br>
                <b>Subject:</b> [E-trademarks] Mark not examined in over
                three years: OR Franz Kafka's Secret Trademark Office<o:p></o:p></span></p>
          </div>
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        <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
        <p class="MsoNormal">Dear Trademark List,<br>
          <br>
          One of my client's applications is suspended pending the
          resolution of a preexisting application.<br>
          <br>
          Fair enough.  HOWEVER:<br>
          <br>
          1.  When it is examined, the preexisting application almost
          certainly will be refused registration.  While my client's
          current application is junior, it also has a senior
          registration which gives it superior rights.  It was on that
          basis my client's application was suspended.<br>
          <br>
          2.  I filed a Letter of Protest in the preexisting
          application, informing the Trademark Office of my client's
          senior registration.  The Letter was accepted - causing a
          notation in the record of the preexisting application.<br>
          <br>
          3.  <b>The preexisting application was filed in May 2021 --
            yes, over three years ago -- yet no Examiner has been
            appointed!</b>  The only notation in the public file since
          then is the reference to my recently filed Letter of Protest
          (the notation is addressed to the "Examiner:" followed by no
          name).<br>
          <br>
          I wrote to <a
            href="mailto:TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov"
            moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov</a>
          about this, and got a long generic non-sequitur response,
          explaining how "suspensions" work.   As to the preexisting
          application it only wrote: "we can't discuss any particular
          application or registration with a third party."<br>
          <br>
          So, what, trademark applications can be ignored indefinitely
          -- and for unexplained reasons?   I did not make any ex-parte
          statement about the preexisting application except to observe
          it has not been examined, which is an objective fact, and a
          problem for my client.<br>
          <br>
          The Trademark Examiner for my client's application (who
          understands the preexisting application is likely to be
          refused registration) suggested I write to
          <a href="mailto:TMPolicy@uspto.gov" moz-do-not-send="true"
            class="moz-txt-link-freetext">TMPolicy@uspto.gov</a> because
          it can see the non-public aspects of the preexisting
          application -- and she cannot.<br>
          <br>
          I do not mean to suggest anything nefarious is going on --
          beyond system failure (things get lost).   But (if I may be
          forgiven for being a little grandiose) the fact there is a
          world of secret trademark files -- who's secrecy prevents my
          client from asserting its rights -- seems like a Due Process
          violation.  Or Administrative Procedure Act violation. Or
          something.  Halloooo Franz Kafka!<br>
          <br>
          Any suggestions?  <br>
          <br>
          Best,<br>
           <br>
           - Charles<br>
          <br>
          <br>
          <br>
          ===========================================<br>
          Charles B. Kramer, Esq.<br>
          ~ ATTORNEY ~ <br>
          Linkedin: <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskramer"
            moz-do-not-send="true">www.linkedin.com/in/charleskramer</a>
          <br>
               Tel: +1 917-512-2721<br>
             Email: <a href="mailto:charles.b.kramer@gmail.com"
            moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">charles.b.kramer@gmail.com</a>
          <--- for direct responses
          <br>
              Mail: 200 E. 10th Street, No. 816, New York, NY 10003<br>
              Blog: <a
            href="https://www.provideocoalition.com/CharlesBKramer/"
            moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.provideocoalition.com/CharlesBKramer/<br>
          </a><o:p></o:p></p>
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