<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Windows-1252">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Do not have any advice to give, but just a note that you are not alone. Have seen this happen in several instances recently under different circumstances. Some guidance from the PTO does seem to have changed to trigger this, but not sure. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Only way to resolve that I have seen is to just file a fresh POA with the magic language the Examining Attorney is looking for, and then a response stating that the 8 and 15 was in fact filed by an individual with legal authority to bind the entity (assuming
true). </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
You are perhaps lucky to have received direct notice of the Office Action. Commonly in these situations the notice goes back just to the previous attorney of record. Not helpful. </div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div class="elementToProof" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div id="appendonsend"></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<hr style="display: inline-block; width: 98%;">
<div dir="ltr" id="divRplyFwdMsg"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>From:</b> E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com> on behalf of Sam Castree via E-trademarks <e-trademarks@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 17, 2025 1:54 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?</span>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">
Dear Listmates,</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">
You'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.</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">I just got an office action today, which reads as follows: "</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Sections 8 & 15
Combined Affidavit submitted on January 6, 2025, cannot be accepted or acknowledged for the reasons set forth below.
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The owner must specify the title of the person who signed the verification.
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">See 37 C.F.R. 2.193(d).
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In this case the owner filed (December 28, 2022,
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">[</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">John Q. Client], on behalf of [Client Company, LLC]</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">)
a verification that did not identify the signers title. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">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><span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">"</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So...my 2025 renewals are being rejected because the change of representation form from
<i>2022</i> didn't say "</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">John Q. Client, as <i>
Manager</i> of Client Company, LLC." 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 even exactly
know what the examiner wants me to do about this. I'm definitely going to call her and ask, but more than anything, I'm just confused beyond confusion. Your wisdom and insights are ever welcome.</span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
Cheers,</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
Sam Castree, III</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
<br>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
<i>Sam Castree Law, LLC</i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
<i>3421 W. Elm St.</i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
<i>McHenry, IL 60050</i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">
<i>(815) 344-6300</i></div>
<div style="direction: ltr;"><br>
</div>
</body>
</html>