USPTO question: Am I the only person who needs to fill out the Certificate of Mailing, or does something need to be filled out/signed/stamped by the post office? Looking at the form, it looks like something that only I need to sign, but when I spoke to a woman at the PTO on the phone, she said that I needed to get the post office to do something. I don't think that's right, reading the reg, and looking at the form, but I was looking for a little advice. Thanks!
posted by mercredi on Apr 21, 2009 - 9 answers

Should I take the patent bar? [more inside]
posted by palmcorder_yajna on Apr 1, 2009 - 10 answers

I'm a scientist considering taking the USPTO exam. I have a few questions. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 26, 2009 - 10 answers

Is it difficult to get hired by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a patent examiner? [more inside]
posted by rybreadmed on Oct 12, 2008 - 9 answers

I'm looking for an old (pre-1900) patent and the USPTO site only allows patent number and classification searches for pre-1975 patents. [more inside]
posted by tommasz on Feb 27, 2006 - 16 answers

Another MeFi trademark question: A small restaurant chain (let’s say ABCFood) opened in Colorado in 1996 and closed all its locations in Q4 2004. All of ABCFood’s state business registrations are in "Delinquent" and/or "Administratively Dissolved" status, and the proprietor has moved on to other endeavors. The USPTO still has a "live" listing for ABCFood’s trademark, though, as mentioned, the mark is no longer maintained. What obstacles would stop someone from hypothetically opening a similar chain with the name ABCFood in another state?
posted by fourstar on Feb 7, 2006 - 8 answers