B. Trademark Registration Problems

If you file an electronic trademark application (see Chapter 8), you may find you need more help if, for example:
•You filed your trademark application on an "intent to use" basis and now need guidance on the follow-up documents needed to complete your registration or obtain a six-month extension for filing them.
•You filed your trademark application, and the PTO staff has told you there is a problem with it or that they need additional information, or
•You received a certificate of trademark registration for your domain name (congratulations!), but now need guidance on how to maintain your trademark and keep it registered. For help with these issues, we suggest these resources: The Trademark Registration Kit, by Patricia Gima and Stephen Elias (Nolo). This book covers all pre- and post-registration issues, including how to manage problems with your application, how to fill out and file follow-up documents for "intent to use" applications and how to maintain your trademark. You can find out more about this book at www.nolo.com. The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, the PTO's own manual for evaluating trademark applications, is the bible for trademark examiners, the PTO attorneys who look over your application and ultimately approve or reject your domain name for registration. Virtually every statement they make to you about your application or registration will come with a reference to this publication. You can find this manual at www.uspto.gov. Click Trademark, and then click "Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure."Federal trademark law, cases and regulations. If you use the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, you may find it useful to look up sections of the law on which the manual's rules are based. See Section D, below for tips on this process.