[E-trademarks] 2024 USPTO filings (mostly not from this list)

[Pamela Chestek]

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!

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?

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.

Pam

*AFAIK, North Carolina is the only state to have a trademark specialty 
and there are currently 25 of us on the list. 👋👋 my fellow NC specialists!

Pamela S. Chestek
Chestek Legal
PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS
4641 Post St.
Unit 4316
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
+1 919-800-8033
pamela at chesteklegal.com
www.chesteklegal.com

On 1/20/2025 9:36 AM, Lara Pearson via E-trademarks wrote:
> Perhaps the list serv can pick up the mantle if there is consensus 
> here that this might be a  viable solution.
> 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.
>
> Thoughts?
> Lara Pearson, Esq.
> Law Office of Lara Pearson Ltd, PBC & Brand Geek
> 775.833.1600
> Calendly.com/BrandGeek (let's meet)
>
> Creative typoing by iPhone
>
>
>
>> On Jan 20, 2025, at 9:32 AM, Miriam Richter, Esq. 
>> <mrichter at richtertrademarks.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> Lara,
>>
>> 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!
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Miriam
>>
>> Miriam Richter, Attorney at Law, P.L.
>>
>> /Make Your Mark!// ®/
>>
>> Trademark, Copyright, and other Intellectual Property Matters
>> 2312 Wilton Drive, Suite 9
>> Wilton Manors, Florida 33305
>>
>> 954-977-4711 office
>>
>> 954-240-8819 cell
>> 954-977-4717 facsimile
>> *
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>>
>> *From:*E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On 
>> Behalf Of *Lara Pearson via E-trademarks
>> *Sent:* Monday, January 20, 2025 12:21 PM
>> *To:* e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com
>> *Cc:* Lara Pearson <lara at brandgeek.net>; e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com
>> *Subject:* Re: [E-trademarks] 2024 USPTO filings (mostly not from 
>> this list)
>>
>> 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.
>>
>> I would love to know ya'll thoughts on whether that could work to 
>> address the issue of fraudulent, primarily Chinese, TM apps.
>>
>> I'm especially curious to hear from Carl and the other patent/TM 
>> attorneys on the list.
>>
>> Happy MLK Day.
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>> Lara Pearson, Esq.
>>
>> Law Office of Lara Pearson Ltd, PBC & Brand Geek
>>
>> 775.833.1600
>>
>> Calendly.com/BrandGeek (let's meet)
>>
>> Creative typoing by iPhone
>>
>>
>>
>>     On Jan 19, 2025, at 6:02 PM, Pamela Chestek via E-trademarks
>>     <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>>
>>     
>>
>>     Fascinating reading, thanks for posting Lara.
>>
>>     Pam
>>
>>     Pamela S. Chestek
>>     Chestek Legal
>>     PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW MAILING ADDRESS
>>     4641 Post St.
>>     Unit 4316
>>     El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
>>     +1 919-800-8033
>>     pamela at chesteklegal
>>     www.chesteklegal.com <http://www.chesteklegal.com>
>>
>>     On 1/19/2025 5:25 PM, Lara Pearson via E-trademarks wrote:
>>
>>         Hi List friends:
>>
>>         Happy Sunday Funday.
>>
>>         I reposted Robert Reading & Clarivate's data on 2024 US TM
>>         filings on LinkedIn:
>>         https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brandgeek_trademarks-activity-7286822761556033536-bRZ3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
>>         <https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brandgeek_trademarks-activity-7286822761556033536-bRZ3?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios>
>>
>>         Let's discuss (here, and there, and everywhere) and may we
>>         each find a joyful way to honor MLK tomorrow.
>>
>>         I feel grateful for each of you, and this list brings me joy
>>         (and so much wisdom).
>>
>>         Cheers!
>>
>>         Lara Pearson, Esq.
>>
>>         Law Office of Lara Pearson Ltd, PBC & Brand Geek
>>
>>         775.833.1600
>>
>>         Calendly.com/BrandGeek (let's meet)
>>
>>         Creative typoing by iPhone
>>
>>
>>
>>     -- 
>>     E-trademarks mailing list
>>     E-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com
>>     http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/e-trademarks_oppedahl-lists.com
>>
>
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