The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is making electronic trademark registration certificates official from May 24, 2022, bringing forward a switch previously scheduled for June 7. For a small business awaiting registration, the change ends automatic delivery of a printed certificate by mail. The official document will instead be available online, free to download. [S1][S2][S3]

The new workflow runs through the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval system, known as TSDR. USPTO uploads the official certificate there and emails the owner and all email addresses on the record a link when it is issued. The electronic document carries the Director’s electronic signature and a digital seal. Owners can view, download and print the complete certificate free at any time. For the business’s records, save the issued file rather than wait for the post. [S2][S3]

A paper copy for the office wall is a separate order. USPTO describes its presentation copy as a one-page, condensed version on heavy paper, with a gold foil seal, ownership information, the trademark and classes of goods or services. The May 24 notice sets the price by application date: owners filing an initial application on or after implementation can order presentation copies for $25 each through the Trademark Electronic Application System, or TEAS. Those who filed before implementation can order one presentation copy free. [S2][S3]

Certified copies remain available for a fee. They certify the registration’s status and title and bear an authorized certifying officer’s signature. The choice depends on the job: retrieving the official certificate, obtaining a copy for framing or ordering a certified record. An owner does not need to buy a presentation copy to make the electronic certificate official. [S2][S3]

Posted with the electronic certificate will be information on registration maintenance requirements under sections 8 and 71 of the Trademark Act. Saving it alongside the certificate would keep the next filing requirements with the ownership record. [S3]

The accelerated date followed a shortage of specialized paper and a vendor disruption. USPTO said it would issue no registration certificates between May 10 and May 23. The transition also caused a recordkeeping problem: some applications were inadvertently marked registered on May 10 while the agency dealt with the shortage. USPTO said it restored those applications to pending status on May 11. [S2]

Source documents

  1. Trademark e-registration certificate issuance accelerated to May 24https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/trademark-e-registration-certificate-issuance-accelerated-may-24
  2. USPTO To Accelerate Transition To Issuance of Electronic Trademark Registration Certificates; Issuing Next Certificates on May 24, 2022https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-05-24/html/2022-11196.htm
  3. USPTO To Begin Issuing Electronic Trademark Registration Certificateshttps://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-05-02/html/2022-09335.htm