Documents in Trademark Disputes Can Now Be Accessed Online
USPTO continues to expand its e-government capacity

Today, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) unveiled TTABVue, a system that allows users to view images of documents relating to trademark disputes on the Internet. TTABVue includes images of most documents filed since January 2003. Some earlier records covering the period June 2001 to January 2003 also are available.

“As we continue to expand our electronic services, quality improves and our processes are simpler, faster, and more efficient, allowing us to be more responsive to the needs of our customers—all fundamental goals of our 21st Century Strategic Plan,” noted James E. Rogan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO.

Last year the TTAB--an administrative tribunal that hears and decides appeals and adversarial proceedings involving trademark registrations--fully implemented a comprehensive electronic workflow system for processing all incoming and outgoing documents electronically. Also, last December, the TTAB introduced ESTTA, an electronic system for trademark trials and appeals that allows parties to file certain case-related documents and extension-of-time requests by e-mail. The TTAB plans to expand ESTTA to allow more filing options beginning in late October 2003.

TTABVue can be accessed at http://ttabvue.uspto.gov
ESTTA can be accessed at: http://estta.uspto.gov.

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