United States Patent and Trademark Office

PREFACE TO THE JUNE 2016 REVISION

This June 2016 revision incorporates amendments to the Trademark Act, the Trademark Rules of Practice, and the Federal Rules, where applicable, and further updates references to Board, Federal Circuit and other federal court cases. Content additions and revisions reflect the evolution and refinement of Board practice as experienced and articulated between March 1, 2015 and March 4, 2016.

The title of the manual is abbreviated as "TBMP." A citation to a section of the manual may be written as "TBMP § _____ (2016)."

As with previous editions, this edition is available online at the Board home page of the USPTO web site in a searchable, printable format. A link to archived editions of the TBMP is also available at the Board’s home page.

Cheryl Butler

Senior Counsel and TBMP Editor

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board