[E-trademarks] Trademark Center supposedly did get beta-tested!?

[Laura A. Genovese]

I was wondering the same thing – if my two rounds of interviews with two people as I went through the not-yet-fully functional Trademark Center meant I was a beta tester. (By “not yet fully functional” I mean that certain buttons were greyed out and I could not select them, and I was told other features were coming.) I gave a LOT of feedback, and I agree that those doing the interviews were not familiar with trademark workflows. I echo all of the comments made below.

From: E-trademarks <e-trademarks-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Carl Oppedahl via E-trademarks
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 1:59 PM
To: for trademark practitioners <e-trademarks at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Carl Oppedahl <carl at oppedahl.com>
Subject: [E-trademarks] Trademark Center supposedly did get beta-tested!?

A listserv member reported to me privately and authorized me to quote:
I am curious whether they count me as a "beta tester."  I did two rounds of "interviews" about the new system — each via Zoom and each lasting about an hour with two USPTO representatives.  I did use the Trademark Center a couple of times before it was "required" and sent feedback right away (and then went back to the "old" way until forced to Trademark Center).

The "interviewer" did not have even a working rudimentary knowledge of trademark filings (such as bases, types of marks etc.).  I gave lots and lots of feedback and feel like — despite me highlighting that I have practiced almost exclusively in trademarks for more than [large number of] years (at small, medium and large firms) — not a single comment I had about flow etc. was considered.  For example, I specifically said that all of the "explanations" were noise and annoying.  I also indicated that we need to be able to save an application AFTER filing to keep as a template.  I also indicated we would want to be able to upload documents (such as 44(e) docs) once.  I can't recall all of my comments.

I also was not shown that an attorney could not easily change certain things during the "regular" review process (such as mark description, basis) without effectively starting section(s) over.

Very frustrating!

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