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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif">Are they objecting because
<i>you</i> signed the 8 & 15 declaration without a valid PoA on file, or because John Q. Client signed the
<i>8 & 15 declaration</i> without stating their title or position?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif">37 C.F.R. § 2.193(e)(1) requires that a section 8 & 15 declaration \u201cbe signed by . . . a person properly authorized to sign on behalf of the owner,\u201d and
subsection (d) requires that \u201c[t]he first and last name, <b>and the title or position</b>, of the person who signs a document\u201d (emphasis added) has to be placed on it. TMEP § 804.04 states that \u201c[i]f a signatory\u2019s name and/or
<b>title or position</b> is not set forth in a document, the USPTO may require that it be stated for the record.\u201d \u201cOn behalf of\u201d is not a \u201ctitle or position,\u201d and without stating that, technically the PoA is non-compliant with Rule 2.193(d).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif">You should be able file a response to the OA with a replacement 8 & 15 declaration signed by \u201cJohn Q. Client, Manager of Client Company, LLC\u201d by marking
the appropriate boxes in the TEAS Post-Reg Office Action Response form.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Neue Haas Grotesk Text Pro",sans-serif">That\u2019s probably the simplest resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Description automatically generated"><img width="100" height="2" style="width:1.0416in;height:.0208in" id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image002.gif@01DBAFC1.5BACECD0"></span><a href="https://www.cfraresearch.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="106" height="27" style="width:1.1041in;height:.2812in" id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image003.png@01DBAFC1.5BACECD0" alt="A picture containing text, screen
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<b><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;color:#002B5A">Michael R. Gordon</span></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;color:#002B5A"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A">Assistant General Counsel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A">Licensed to practice only in Maryland, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A"><a href="mailto:michael.gordon@cfraresearch.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#007BB8">michael.gordon@cfraresearch.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A">o: <a href="tel:+1.646.517.2461" target="_blank">
<span style="color:#002B5A">+1.646.517.2461</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;color:#002B5A">Clients First \u2022 Integrity \u2022 Courage \u2022 Excellence</span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Arial Black",sans-serif;color:#002B5A"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:.1pt"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/cfra-research/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="22" height="22" style="width:.2291in;height:.2291in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image004.png@01DBAFC1.5BACECD0" alt="LinkedIn"></span></a><a href="https://twitter.com/cfraresearch" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="22" height="22" style="width:.2291in;height:.2291in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image005.png@01DBAFC1.5BACECD0" alt="Twitter"></span></a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@CFRAResearch" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="22" height="22" style="width:.2291in;height:.2291in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image006.png@01DBAFC1.5BACECD0" alt="YouTube"></span></a><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#002B5A"><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>Sam Castree via E-trademarks<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 17, 2025 4:55 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> for trademark practitioners <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Sam Castree <sam@castreelaw.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [E-trademarks] Renewal Rejected Because of...Huh?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:red">CAUTION: EXTERNAL MESSAGE
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Dear Listmates,</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Y<span class="gmaildefault">ou'll never guess why my §§ 8&15 filings drew an office action today. So, back in December of 2022, the principal of the client company signed off on a change
of representation, naming me as the attorney of record on a couple of registrations. He signed the power-of-attorney as "John Q. Client, on behalf of Client Company, LLC." I assumed that this filing was accepted because I have indeed been the attorney of
record for the past couple years and all of my information shows up on the "Attorney of Record" area in the PTO system for the marks in question. We filed the renewals a few months ago.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I just got an office action today, which reads as follows: "</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Sections 8 & 15 Combined Affidavit
submitted on January 6, 2025, cannot be accepted or acknowledged for the reasons set forth below.
<span class="gmaildefault"> </span>The owner must specify the title of the person who signed the verification.
<span class="gmaildefault"> </span>See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(d). <span class="gmaildefault">
</span>In this case the owner filed (December 28, 2022, <span class="gmaildefault">
[</span>John Q. Client<span class="gmaildefault">]</span>, on behalf of <span class="gmaildefault">
[</span>Client Company, LLC<span class="gmaildefault">]</span>) a verification that did not identify the signer\u2019s title.
<span class="gmaildefault"> </span>Documents filed with the USPTO must identify the title or position of the individual who signed the document. See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(d).<span class="gmaildefault">"</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="gmaildefault"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">So...my 2025 renewals are being rejected because the change of representation form from
<i>2022</i> didn't say "</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">John Q. Client,
<span class="gmaildefault">as <i>Manager</i> </span>of Client Company, LLC<span class="gmaildefault">." Am...am I reading this right? Does this make sense to anyone? If anyone has ever heard of something like this, then please let me know. I don't understand
how the one has any bearing on the other. I don't </span>even exactly know what the examiner wants me to do about this<span class="gmaildefault">. I'm definitely going to call her and ask, but m</span>ore than anything, I'm just confused beyond confusion.<span class="gmaildefault">
Your wisdom and insights are ever welcome.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222">Cheers,</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"> </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">Sam Castree, III</span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Tahoma",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">Sam Castree Law, LLC</span></i><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">3421 W. Elm St.</span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">McHenry, IL 60050</span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#FF6600">(815) 344-6300</span></i><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#222222"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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