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<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Thank you, Carl, for recognizing my earlier concerns about these older applications awaiting examination. </div>
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As it happens, I have continued some research on the older <b><i>live applications awaiting assignment to an examining attorney</i></b>. Following is a brief table of some of my observations.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; border-top: 0.5pt solid; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></td>
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Days</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
115</div>
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<div style="text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
134</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 700;">Search</span></td>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 700;">Description</span></td>
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03/04</div>
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<td style="width: 64px; height: 26.8px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; background-color: rgb(191, 191, 191); padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
06/27</div>
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07/16</div>
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<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Full List : New Application, No EA</span></td>
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<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 46px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
341,956</div>
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<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 46px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
344,155</div>
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<td style="width: 271pt; height: 28.8pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">FD:[* TO 20211024] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) AND OW:usa NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">OW:USA Filed Before 25 Oct 2021</span></td>
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<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">498</span></div>
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<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">494</span></div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">493</span></div>
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<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 14.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 24.4px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
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</div>
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<td style="width: 64px; height: 24.4px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
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</div>
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<td style="width: 64px; height: 24.4px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
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</div>
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<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 14.4pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 24.4px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">By Calendar Year</span></div>
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</div>
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<td style="width: 64px; height: 24.4px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
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</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 24.4px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
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</div>
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<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[* TO 20181231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2018</div>
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<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
1</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
1</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20190101 TO 20191231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2019</div>
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<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
1</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
- </div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20200101 TO 20201231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2020</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
769</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
769</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20210101 TO 20211231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2021</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
5,861</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
5,859</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20220101 TO 20221231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2022</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
6,841</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
6,788</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20230101 TO 20231231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6001px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2023</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6001px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6001px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
55,981</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6001px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
31,818</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">FD:[20240101 TO 20241231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 67.6px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2024</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
<td align="right" style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
272,500</div>
</td>
<td style="width: 64px; height: 67.6px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
298,918</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 271pt; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; border-left: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle; height: 28.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">( (SA:" application assignment" ~5) NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3) ) NOT ( FD:* )</span></td>
<td style="width: 169pt; height: 46px; text-align: center; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<span style="font-weight: 700;">No Filing Date</span></div>
</td>
<td style="width: 57.333px; height: 46px; white-space: nowrap; border-right: 0.5pt solid; border-bottom: 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; vertical-align: middle;">
<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
</td>
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<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2</div>
</td>
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<div style="white-space: nowrap; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
2</div>
</td>
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<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
For the <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">highlighted row</span>, I thought I was clever with that search that retrieved the 498 oldest live applications from USA applicant awaiting assignment to an examining attorney, downloading all 498 serial
numbers on March 4<sup>th</sup> so that I could track the changes if/when the hit count changed in the future. Well, on June 27th, the hit count for that search had changed from 498 to 494, suggesting that the status had changed on at least 4 serial number
records. On closer inspection, 6 serial number differences were found, namely one application was abandoned by the applicant, but the other 5 applications still had the status
<span style="color: rgb(12, 100, 192);"><i>new application awaiting assignment to an examining attorney</i></span> but that assignments had altered the owner address to either include or exclude the trademarks via the
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">OW:usa</span> search criterion.</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Considering that result, I began the second part of the table, namely tracking application counts by calendar year. While calendar years 2023 and 2024 have significant changes, application counts for calendar years prior to 2023 have few changes. Also, the
last row notes that 2 new applications awaiting assignment to an examining attorney do NOT have filing dates. Then again, the search
<b>LD:true NOT FD:*</b> retrieves 56 live trademarks without filing date, except 52 of those are nuisance trademarks in the 81-series that somehow became resurrected as live when Trademark Search replaced TESS.
<span style="color: rgb(200, 38, 19);"><b><i>Is there any word on when those live/dead discrepancies between Trademark Search and TSDR will be resolved?</i></b></span></div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
My conclusions: </div>
<ol start="1" data-listchain="__List_Chain_37">
<li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div class="elementToProof">Applications filed prior to 1 Jan 2023 are no longer <b>
<i>new applications</i></b> despite having the <span style="color: rgb(12, 100, 192);">
<b><i>new application awaiting assignment to an examining attorney</i></b></span><i>
</i>status on TSDR.</div>
</li><li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div class="elementToProof">The Summary provided by Trademark Search should display the
<b>SA - Status</b> field since that status description apparently differs from the status description displayed by TSDR, making exact status searches on Trademark Search a guessing game. (Also, add the Description of Mark and Translation to the Summary since
those fields are displayed on registration certificates,)</div>
</li><li style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div class="elementToProof">It appears that the USPTO is largely ignoring the applications filed prior to 1 Jan 2023 having the
<span style="color: rgb(12, 100, 192);"><b><i>new application awaiting assignment to an examining attorney</i></b></span><i> </i>status on TSDR. How is that justified? Shouldn't there be an alternative status for such applications that are long overdue for
assignment to an examining attorney for examination?</div>
</li></ol>
<div id="Signature">
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
___________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Ken Boone</div>
</div>
<div id="appendonsend"></div>
<hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex="-1">
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com> on behalf of Carl Oppedahl via E-trademarks <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, July 16, 2024 11:45 AM<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> Carl Oppedahl <carl@oppedahl.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] Mark not examined in over three years: OR Franz Kafka's Secret Trademark Office</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<p>Listserv member Ken Boone has put a lot of time into doing searches for boundary conditions in the corpus of not-yet-examined US trademark applications. He looks for cases that have been outstanding for a long time, to try to draw patterns. Surely you
saw his posting to the listserv on March 26, 2024, for example, in which he identified 182 old applications filed prior to calendar year 2021.</p>
<p>One would have hoped that one or another of the dozen Trademark Office lurkers on the listserv would have seen that posting and might have shared it with whoever is in charge of this kind of management. One would have hoped that in the time that passed
since March of 2024, somebody at the USPTO would have tried to get some of those cases moving.</p>
<p>Ken posted his search strategy ( FD:[* TO 20201231] AND (SA:" application assignment" ~5) AND OW:usa NOT (SA:" application assignment" ~3)) and I tried that same search just now.</p>
<p>The count of applications is still 182. No progress on any of those 182 cases.<br>
</p>
<div class="x_moz-cite-prefix">On 7/16/2024 10:32 AM, Laura A. Genovese via E-trademarks wrote:<br>
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<p class="x_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.</span></p>
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<p class="x_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="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">
<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 class="x_moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">
e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Charles B. Kramer <a class="x_moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:charlesbkramer.tm@gmail.com">
<charlesbkramer.tm@gmail.com></a>; <a class="x_moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:charles.b.kramer@gmail.com">
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</span></p>
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<p class="x_MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="x_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" class="x_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" class="x_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" originalsrc="http://www.linkedin.com/in/charleskramer" shash="tjH2M02oz1o4plXE1FOKkIZRHUHdUbnRtB5JFA1jmO0KwsyuPvi3waTvUBLf3r4jIEPBvUkpO61XOy/Iq2z+jEVks8dwazU60iDS9iqdsbj9NrroEFI9oShwKOviWJWc2fL2lIDPQjtXxGvgiy751uxzkSp0GJz31VNNcbwdz8s=">
www.linkedin.com/in/charleskramer</a> <br>
Tel: +1 917-512-2721<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:charles.b.kramer@gmail.com" class="x_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/" originalsrc="https://www.provideocoalition.com/CharlesBKramer/" shash="fYgl/WrKUPiiHWyqGVUFe65lpheinfzVJaeJcqOonbhpg99fgFyCEFENETt80+5ktGevl3snx6zxmSgmRZGSPfjTw5i5xXy9toIo/aNZkiX3iDf9DmonfiwTgTQ9TVN9PRp+GKtGj8kD1QafHkTN2TDgADoXEQGvdttVA5RHasI=">
https://www.provideocoalition.com/CharlesBKramer/<br>
</a></p>
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