[E-trademarks] User verification suddenly required despite being securely logged into MyUSPTO

[Laura Geyer]

ZOMG Gerry, I was caught in an endless verification loop where it made me do that I think 4 times  with the drivers’ license/face capture before I finally cracked and contacted ID.me.

But here’s the thing: if you’re in the Infinite Verification Loop with any agency, the hangup is often ID.me and then you can’t get into your account to log into Id.me to access their “faster” response team. In my case, they had decided that my account was connected with my prior work email, to which I have no access, obviously. No worries though, says the “help” page, just type in your old inaccessible email address with your old password. The chances that I’m going to remember a prior password, from a year ago, is .000002%.No worries, says the help page, just put in a few guesses – sorry, guys, the fact that we’re all forced to register 8FUN€beach§woohoo34# means that unless you write them all down you’re screwed. So there is no way to get in at ALL.

So you go to ID.me and fill out the “help”email, because you can only report that way, and they say “high volume but will get back to you within a week”. But … we have an 8&15 and the client finally surfaced and it’s due tomorrow!! So a friend suggested that I call the TM Assistance Center, and ask to talk w true TEAS "technical problems people" and plead for help. They have some kind of Big Red Phone to get in touch with ID.me and get you a response much sooner. Once I did that, I heard from ID.me a few hours later and the problem was solved by the next day. Not lickety-split, but much faster than the week a lot of people have to wait for ID.me.

Good luck!

Laura Talley Geyer (she/her)
Of Counsel
ND Galli Law LLC
1200 G Street, N.W., Ste 800
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (202) 599-9019 (direct)
https://ndgallilaw.com/laura-geyer/


From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Gerry J. Elman via E-trademarks
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 11:51 PM
To: For trademark practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Gerry J. Elman <gerry at elman.com>; Kartik Kumar <Office at elman.com>
Subject: [E-trademarks] User verification suddenly required despite being securely logged into MyUSPTO

EXTERNAL EMAIL
I have "sponsored" a remote paralegal to log into MyUSPTO for both trademark and patent matters.  Up to now that was working ok. But yesterday, after logging into MyUSPTO, he was stymied from accessing the page for a Section 8 trademark filing for a client I had asked him to start for me.

Instead he was presented with a screen demanding that he provide an additional form of "verification" via the ID.me<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fID.me&c=E,1,OaD2j1z59sUNAdOfdGsU2-fUozGx4Nw1einR6N3ou5cql64oOvktGThgdKamlQoiQVTWy4e_5cpjH6eLeeRu51_Zost0e5fy98y337mIDDeq&typo=1&ancr_add=1> platform, even though he was already securely logged into MyUSPTO with its own identity factor.  Several months ago I had successfully "sponsored" him as a paralegal working for me. See attached screenshot.

And I find that the ID.me<https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fID.me&c=E,1,q230Rx-T3V4Xo_RLOkbGCi1lRaS1X94Car77y7dIDHE6pRlFZkpspg--rROVFoaNtdG7_Akk2n05Plf9U9sBwprQuZ_iIQXAShtDp3dy&typo=1&ancr_add=1> platform is skewed towards people located in the United States.  He is working for me from outside the border.

Has anyone else encountered this sudden impediment to ongoing trademark work?  I had no notice that this additional barrier was going to be erected.  Did I miss a notice from USPTO?  Has this requirement been vetted under the Paperwork Reduction Act?

Any advice as to whom to contact at USPTO?  The Trademark Help Desk wasn't able to provide help here.

-Gerry          gerry at elman.com<mailto:gerry at elman.com>
Gerry J. Elman, Elman IP
6117 St James Pl, Denton, TX 76210
office ph. 610-892-9942    mobile 610-909-2468



-------- Original message --------
From: Gerry Elman <gjelman at live.com<mailto:gjelman at live.com>>
Date: 4/16/24 5:08 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: "Gerry J. Elman" <gerry at elman.com<mailto:gerry at elman.com>>
Subject: TM verification required


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