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    As one of only 25 certified trademark specialists in the country,*
    and having been on the committee that prepares the questions and
    grades the exams, I think I can speak with some authority! <br>
    <br>
    I don't think the problem is one of knowledge but one of identity of
    the filer, and the PTO claims to be addressing the latter problem
    (in part by diligently rooting out those virtual addresses). The
    difficulty of an exam is where you draw the line on knowledge. Will
    you draw it where those business lawyers who file 2-3 applications
    are year, and surely don't know the TMEP (and, god forbid, are still
    filing paper applications) will fail, or not bother to take it? Who
    does that serve? (Well us, for starters.) How huge is the
    administrative burden and cost of testing tens of thousands of
    people?<br>
    <br>
    The data you cited revealed very few offices filing a lot of
    applications. IMHO, what the attorney representation requirement did
    was turn a cottage industry into a consolidated industry that works
    way more efficiently than those individuals ever did. The industrial
    machine will have a lawyer take (and pass) the exam and still file
    just as many fraudulent applications. Crooks gonna crook and there
    are plenty of lawyers who would be willing to flout the ethical
    rules to do it - I mean, it's not like they send you to jail for it.
    So you won't have solved the problem but you will have reduced the
    number lawyers available to the public for legitimate work. So I
    don't see testing as a step that will actually do much to address
    the problem.<br>
    <br>
    Pam<br>
    <br>
    *AFAIK, North Carolina is the only state to have a trademark
    specialty and there are currently 25 of us on the list. \U0001f44b\U0001f44b my
    fellow NC specialists!<br>
    <br>
    <div class="moz-signature">Pamela S. Chestek<br>
      Chestek Legal<br>
      PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS<br>
      4641 Post St.<br>
      Unit 4316<br>
      El Dorado Hills, CA 95762<br>
      +1 919-800-8033<br>
      <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pamela@chesteklegal.com">pamela@chesteklegal.com</a><br>
      <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.chesteklegal.com">www.chesteklegal.com</a><br>
      <br>
    </div>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 1/20/2025 9:36 AM, Lara Pearson via
      E-trademarks wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
      cite="mid:1AB14007-C75B-492A-9E89-C71B7FDE1515@brandgeek.net">
      <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
      Perhaps the list serv can pick up the mantle if there is consensus
      here that this might be a  viable solution. 
      <div>I'd be especially thrilled if we could swap this solution out
        for the ineffective, arduous Domicile Requirement that does
        nothing to achieve it's stated purpose (as Clarivate's table
        shows) and instead causes bona fide applicants time, money and
        stress.</div>
      <div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div>Thoughts?<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature">
          <div dir="ltr">
            <div>Lara Pearson, Esq.</div>
            <div>Law Office of Lara Pearson Ltd, PBC &amp; Brand Geek</div>
            <div>775.833.1600</div>
            <div>Calendly.com/BrandGeek (let's meet)</div>
            <div>
              <div><br>
              </div>
              <div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255,
                  0);">Creative typoing by iPhone</span></div>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
          </div>
          <div dir="ltr"><br>
            <blockquote type="cite">On Jan 20, 2025, at 9:32\u202fAM, Miriam
              Richter, Esq. <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:mrichter@richtertrademarks.com">&lt;mrichter@richtertrademarks.com&gt;</a>
              wrote:<br>
              <br>
            </blockquote>
          </div>
          <blockquote type="cite">
            <div dir="ltr">\ufeff
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                <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Lara,<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">For
                    years, I was very vocal about this idea (as many on
                    this list serve can attest). As hard as I tried, and
                    as many PTO and AIPLA officials as I talked to, I
                    could not get any traction. If you want to pick up
                    the mantle, you have my full support! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
                <div>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">Best, </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black">Miriam </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black"> </span><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black">Miriam Richter,
                        Attorney at Law, P.L.</span><span
                        style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span
                          style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                          BT&quot;,serif;color:#4F81BD">Make Your Mark!</span></i><i><span
style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:#4F81BD"> ®</span></i><span
style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:11.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black">Trademark,
                        Copyright, and other Intellectual Property
                        Matters</span><span
                        style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black"><br>
                      </span><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black">2312 Wilton Drive,
                        Suite 9<br>
                        Wilton Manors, Florida 33305</span><span
                        style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black"> </span><span
                        style="font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black">954-977-4711 office<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                        BT&quot;,serif;color:black">954-240-8819 cell<br>
                        954-977-4717 facsimile</span><span
                        style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Palatino
                        Linotype&quot;,serif;color:black"><br>
                      </span><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;color:black"><br>
                        </span></b><b><span
                          style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:&quot;DellaRobbia
                          BT&quot;,serif;color:#804000">NOTICE: This
                          e-mail message and any attachment to this
                          e-mail message contains
                          <u>confidential information</u> that may be <u>legally
                            privileged</u>. If you are not the intended
                          recipient, you must not review, retransmit,
                          convert to hard copy, copy, use or disseminate
                          this e-mail or any attachments to it. If you
                          have received this e-mail in error, please
                          notify us immediately by return e-mail or by
                          telephone at 954-240-8819 and delete this
                          message. Please note that if this e-mail
                          message contains a forwarded message or is a
                          reply to a prior message, some or all of the
                          contents of this message or anyattachments may
                          not have been produced by the sender.</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                        style="mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </div>
                </div>
                <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:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,sans-serif">
                        E-trademarks
                        <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">&lt;e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com&gt;</a>
                        <b>On Behalf Of </b>Lara Pearson via
                        E-trademarks<br>
                        <b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 20, 2025 12:21 PM<br>
                        <b>To:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
                        <b>Cc:</b> Lara Pearson
                        <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:lara@brandgeek.net">&lt;lara@brandgeek.net&gt;</a>;
                        <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
                        <b>Subject:</b> Re: [E-trademarks] 2024 USPTO
                        filings (mostly not from this list)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
                  </div>
                </div>
                <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                <p class="MsoNormal">One of the suggestions I made in my
                  post was that the US PTO administer a trademark
                  admissions exam similar in nature to that which it
                  uses for patent attorneys.<o:p></o:p></p>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">I would love to know ya'll
                    thoughts on whether that could work to address the
                    issue of fraudulent, primarily Chinese, TM apps.<o:p></o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">I'm especially curious to hear
                    from Carl and the other patent/TM attorneys on the
                    list.<o:p></o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">Happy MLK Day.<o:p></o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal">Warmly,<o:p></o:p></p>
                </div>
                <div>
                  <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                  <div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal">Lara Pearson, Esq.<o:p></o:p></p>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal">Law Office of Lara Pearson
                        Ltd, PBC &amp; Brand Geek<o:p></o:p></p>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal">775.833.1600<o:p></o:p></p>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal">Calendly.com/BrandGeek (let's
                        meet)<o:p></o:p></p>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                      </div>
                      <div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal">Creative typoing by iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
                      </div>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                    </div>
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                    </div>
                  </div>
                  <div>
                    <p class="MsoNormal"><br>
                      <br>
                      <o:p></o:p></p>
                    <blockquote
                      style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
                      <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On
                        Jan 19, 2025, at 6:02<span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif">\u202f</span>PM,
                        Pamela Chestek via E-trademarks &lt;<a
                          href="mailto:e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com"
                          moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;
                        wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
                    </blockquote>
                  </div>
                  <blockquote
                    style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span
                          style="font-family:&quot;Tahoma&quot;,sans-serif">\ufeff</span>
                        <o:p>
                        </o:p></p>
                      <p>Fascinating reading, thanks for posting Lara.<o:p></o:p></p>
                      <p>Pam<o:p></o:p></p>
                      <div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"
                          style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Pamela S. Chestek<br>
                          Chestek Legal<br>
                          PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS<br>
                          4641 Post St.<br>
                          Unit 4316<br>
                          El Dorado Hills, CA 95762<br>
                          +1 919-800-8033<br>
                          pamela@chesteklegal<br>
                          <a href="http://www.chesteklegal.com"
                            moz-do-not-send="true">www.chesteklegal.com</a><br>
                          <br>
                          <o:p></o:p></p>
                      </div>
                      <div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal">On 1/19/2025 5:25 PM, Lara
                          Pearson via E-trademarks wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
                      </div>
                      <blockquote
                        style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal">Hi List friends:<o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">Happy
                              Sunday Funday.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal">I reposted Robert Reading
                            &amp; Clarivate's data on 2024 US TM filings
                            on LinkedIn: <a
href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brandgeek_trademarks-activity-7286822761556033536-bRZ3?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_ios"
                              moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brandgeek_trademarks-activity-7286822761556033536-bRZ3?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_ios</a><o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal">Let's discuss (here, and
                            there, and everywhere) and may we each find
                            a joyful way to honor MLK tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal">I feel grateful for each
                            of you, and this list brings me joy (and so
                            much wisdom).<o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal">Cheers!<o:p></o:p></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal">Lara Pearson, Esq.<o:p></o:p></p>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal">Law Office of Lara
                              Pearson Ltd, PBC &amp; Brand Geek<o:p></o:p></p>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal">775.833.1600<o:p></o:p></p>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal">Calendly.com/BrandGeek
                              (let's meet)<o:p></o:p></p>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                            </div>
                            <div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal">Creative typoing by
                                iPhone<o:p></o:p></p>
                            </div>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                          </div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
                          </div>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><br>
                          <br>
                          <o:p></o:p></p>
                      </blockquote>
                      <p class="MsoNormal">-- <br>
                        E-trademarks mailing list<br>
                        <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>
                        <a
href="http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/e-trademarks_oppedahl-lists.com"
                          moz-do-not-send="true"
                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/e-trademarks_oppedahl-lists.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
                    </div>
                  </blockquote>
                </div>
              </div>
            </div>
          </blockquote>
        </div>
      </div>
      <br>
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    </blockquote>
    <br>
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