2019年7月2日，美国商标和专利局颁布了一项最终法案，该法案要求位于美国境外的申请人必须聘用美国执业律师代为申请商标，专利及相关的争议诉讼程序。该美国执业律师必须是其执业州最高法院的律师会员，且资格完备良好。同时该法案也去除了之前允许外国专利律师或专利代理机构基于互惠认可在美国商标和专利局执业的规定。
“If you are foreign-domiciled, you are required to use a U.S.-licensed attorney to file your trademark-related submissions with the USPTO. This requirement also applies to all Canadian applicants, registrants, and parties.” “A “foreign-domiciled” trademark applicant, registrant, or party is one who does not have a domicile in the United States or its territories. An individual’s domicile is the place the person resides and intends to be the person’s principal home. An entity’s domicile is its principal place of business (headquarters) where the entity’s senior executives or officers ordinarily direct and control the entity’s activities. ”
根据这项规定，所有来自中国的商标申请，专利申请及争议诉讼，必须有美国执业律师完成，换句话说，中国境内的商标代理机构，专利代理机构没有任何资格向美国商标专利局递交任何申请。这种情况迫使国内的商标代理机构，尤其是之前有大量美标业务的代理机构不得不寻求和美国执业律师的合作，但是有些合作方式不符合美国法律要求，比如国内商标机构只是想需要美国代理律师的律师号码，所以希望能拿到律师的个人信息，然后仍然延续其之前的做法，在中国境内提交。还有些代理机构辗转通过几个联系人拿到美国律师的执业信息，在中国提交，结果最后发现，该律师根本就没有同意过这种做法，换句话说，被中间人坑了。 所有这些行为都是非法的，而且美国商标专利局也越来越注意到国内代理机构的这种做法，已经清理了一批大型的国内商标代理机构，比如：某人冒充自己是律师，在美国商标专利局代理了900多件商标代理，被查出后，全部商标取消。还有深圳某著名知识产权代理公司，用了三张不同的国内信用卡共申请了2000多件商标，同时美国专利商标局查到该代理公司用中国IP地址做的递交，并全部留有自己公司的邮箱，因此全部商标最后被取消。
因此，我们一直建议国内知产代理机构要尊重美国的法律，而不能借用美国律师的信息，必须按照美国法律要求，提供申请人本人的相关信息，联系方式。同时我们也发现某些代理机构协助国内商标申请人制造需要的商标标志在商业使用的证据，甚至假冒客户申请人的签字，这种做法严格来说最严重的后果是触及美国的刑事法律，会被判刑，当然有的代理机构觉得我在中国境内，没有关系。但是最基本的惩罚，就是所有和代理机构相关的商标都会被取消，另外就是这个商标机构的相关人员的联系方式信息，会被查到，可能将来到美国会有法律上的麻烦。
因此，我们真心的建议国内的代理机构不要以身试法，要严格遵守美国的法律。
在此，我们也给潜在的中国商标申请者普及以下美国商标申请的大致流程，在此之前，我想和大家分享下申请美国商标的必要性：
- 所有的知识产权保护都是有地域性的， 如果你只在中国注册了商标，没有在美国注册商标，那么你的商标将来在美国是得不到保护的，如果有人已经在美国抢先注册了你的商标，并已经在先投入了商业使用，那么你将面临在美国你的商标无法使用的情况；
- 越来越多的中国企业家在美国设立销售公司，销售中国母公司的产品，这种情况更有必要提前准备在美国注册商标，或者使用全新的标志注册也可以，尤其是你在亚马逊上买产品，如果你想申请BRAND REGISTRY，必须要有自己的商标；
- 在美国注册了商标，可以提高你公司的无形资产价值，将来也可以转让
- 在美国注册了商标，可以将竞争对手的且还没注册商标的公司的产品申请从亚马逊下架等等。
需要注意，美国的商标申请必须是基于商业使用，和中国不一样，中国的商标注册申请不需要你提供已经投入商业使用的证据，但是美国不一样，必须要有投入商业使用的证据，这也是为什么有些国内代理机构及申请人，PS商标的商业使用证据的原因。 下面我们给大家列出申请美国商标的流程和要求，这样能有一个大致的理解：
基于美国本土商业使用的申请：
Step 1. Application filed: The filed application is assigned a serial number. (Approx. 3 month)
申请递交后，会分配给一个号码。这一步大概三个月的时间。
Step 2. USPTO reviews application: If the minimum filing requirements are met, the application is assigned to an examining attorney. The examining attorney conducts a review of the application to determine whether federal law permits registration. （Appox. 1 month）
商标局审查申请：如果满足最低要求，申请会分配给审查律师进行审查看是否满足联邦法律的注册要求。(大概一个月时间)
Step 3a. USPTO publishes mark: If no refusals or additional requirements are identified, the examining attorney approves the mark for publication in the Official Gazette (OG). Approximately 1 month after approval, the mark will publish in the OG for a 30-day opposition period. Any party who believes it would be harmed by the registration may file an objection (opposition) within that 30-day period with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Approximately 3 months go to step 8.
商标局公布申请的商标：如果没有拒绝或额外的要求，审查律师会批准将该申请商标在OG 上进行公布，大约在批准后1个月，申请的商标会在OG公布30天。期间任何人如果认为对该申请商标注册会伤害到其权益的，均可在该30天内提交反对函。 大概需要3个月的时间，才可以开始第8步。
Step 3b. USPTO issues letter (Office action): If refusals or requirements must still be satisfied, the examining attorney assigned to the application issues a letter (Office action) stating the refusals/requirements. Within 6 months of the issuance date of the Office action, the applicant must submit a response that addresses each refusal and requirement. Within 6 months go to step 4a or step 4b.
商标局发布通知函：如果拒绝或需要额外要求，审查律师会发布信函告知拒绝的理由及额外要求的条件。 在信函发布之日其6个月内，申请人必须就拒绝和要求给出回应。 在六个月内可以进行到第4.a或4b 步。
Step 4a. Applicant timely responds: In order to avoid abandonment of the application, the applicant must submit a timely response addressing each refusal and/or requirement stated in the Office action. Approximately 1 to 2 months go to step 5a or step 5b.
申请人及时回应：为避免造成申请的放弃，申请人必须就商标局信函指出的每一项拒绝及/或要求及时做出回应。 大概一到两个月可以进行到第5a或5b步。
Step 4b. Applicant does not respond and application abandons: If the applicant does not respond within 6 months from the date the Office action was issued, the application is abandoned. The term “abandoned” means that the application process has ended and the trademark will not register.
申请人不回应及申请的放弃：如果申请人自商标局信函发布之日起6个月内未作出回应，申请视为放弃。放弃的意思是，申请过程终止，申请的商标将不会被登记。
Step 5a. USPTO publishes mark: If the applicant’s response overcomes the refusals and/or satisfies all requirements, the examining attorney approves the mark for publication in the Official Gazette (OG). The OG, a weekly online publication, gives notice to the public that the USPTO plans to issue a registration. Approximately 1 month after approval, the mark will publish in the OG for a 30-day opposition period. Any party who believes it would be harmed by the registration may file an objection (opposition) within that 30-day period with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Approximately 3 months go to step 8.
如果申请人的回应满足不能被拒绝及/额外的要求，审查律师会批准将该申请商标在OG 上进行公布，告知公众商标局将发布登记。大约在批准后1个月，申请的商标会在OG公布30天。期间任何人如果认为对该申请商标注册会伤害到其权益的，均可在该30天内提交反对函。 大概需要3个月的时间，才可以开始第8步。
Step 5b. USPTO issues final letter (Office action): If the applicant’s response fails to overcome the refusals and/or satisfy the outstanding requirements, the examining attorney will issue a “Final” refusal letter (Office action). An applicant may respond to a final office action by a) overcoming the refusals and complying with the requirements or b) appealing to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Within 6 months go to step 6a or step 6b.
商标局发布最终拒绝函：如果申请人的回应不能满足不能被拒绝及/或重要的要求，审查律师将发布最终拒绝函。 申请人可通过两种方式就最终拒绝函予以回应 a) 不能被拒绝的理由及满足条件要求 或b) 向商标上诉审查委员会提起上诉。 六个月内可以进行到第6a或6b步。
Step 6a. Applicant timely responds and/or files appeal: To avoid abandonment of the application, the applicant must submit a timely response addressing each refusal and/or requirement stated in the “Final” refusal letter (Office action). Alternatively, or in addition to the response, the applicant may also submit a Notice of Appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). The examining attorney will review the submitted response to determine if all refusals and/or requirements have been satisfied. If the applicant’s response fails to overcome the refusals and/or satisfy the outstanding requirements, the application will be abandoned unless the applicant has filed a Notice of Appeal, in which case the application is forwarded to the TTAB. Approximately 1 to 2 months go to step 7a or step 7b.
申请人及时回应及/或递交上诉申请：为避免申请的放弃，申请人必须及时递交回应，就最终拒绝函中的拒绝理由及/或要求给出回应。或者，除回应外，申请人也可向商标上诉委员会递交上诉通知。审查律师会审查递交的回应以决定所有的拒绝及/或要求是否已经满足。如果申请人的回应未能说服拒绝及/或满足重要的要求，申请将被是为放弃，除非申请人提交上诉，不管哪种情况，申请都将被转到商标上诉委员会。 大约1到2个月的时间到第7a或7b步。
Step 6b. Applicant does not respond and application abandons: If the applicant does not respond within 6 months from the date the Office action was issued and the applicant has not filed a Notice of Appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the application is abandoned. If more than 2 months after the abandonment date, the petition will be denied as untimely.
申请人没有回应和申请的放弃：如果申请人未能在商标局发布决定之日起6个月内做出回应，切申请人未能向上诉委员会递交上诉通知，则申请是为放弃。自放弃日起2个月，申请将被视为永久拒绝。
Step 7a. USPTO publishes mark: If the applicant’s response overcomes the refusals and/or satisfies all requirements of the “Final” refusal letter (Office action), the examining attorney approves the mark for publication in the Official Gazette (OG). The OG, a weekly online publication, gives notice to public that USPTO plans to issue a registration. Approximately 1 month after approval, the mark will publish in the OG for a 30-day opposition period. Any party who believes it would be harmed by the registration may file an objection (opposition) within that 30-day period with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Approximately 3 months go to step 8.
商标局公布申请的商标：如果申请人的回应满足不能被拒绝及/额外的要求，审查律师会批准将该申请商标在OG 上进行公布，告知公众商标局将发布登记。大约在批准后1个月，申请的商标会在OG公布30天。期间任何人如果认为对该申请商标注册会伤害到其权益的，均可在该30天内提交反对函。 大概需要3个月的时间，才可以开始第8步。
Step 7b. Applicant’s appeal sent to TTAB: If the applicant’s response does not overcome the refusals and/or satisfy all of the requirements and the applicant has filed a Notice of Appeal with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), the appeal will be forwarded to the TTAB.
申请人的上诉递交到商标上诉委员会：如果申请人的回应未能满足不能被拒绝的理由及/或未能满足所有的要求，且申请人向商标上诉委员会递交上诉申请的，则该上诉申请将被转至商标上诉委员会。
Step 8. Mark registers: Within approximately 3 months after the mark published in the Official Gazette, if no opposition was filed, then the USPTO issues a registration. If an opposition was filed but it was unsuccessful, the registration issues when the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board dismisses the opposition. Between 5 to 6 years go to step 9 and every 10 years go to step 10.
商标登记： 大约申请的商标在OG公布三个月后，如果没有反对申请提交，则商标局发布登记证。如果有反对申请提交但不成功，当商标上诉委员会驳回发对申请时，发布登记。在5到六年的时间，可以到第9布，每10年到第10步。
Step 9. Registration owner files Section 8 declaration: Before the end of the 6-year period after the registration date, or within the six-month grace period after the expiration of the sixth year, the registration owner must file a Declaration of Use or Excusable Nonuse under Section 8. Failure to file this declaration will result in the cancellation of the registration.
所有人递交声明：在登记日之后的第六年结束之前，或在第六年结束后的六个月的宽限期内，所有人必须递交仍在使用商标或豁免使用的声明。未能递交该声明，将导致登记的取消。
Step 10. Registration owner files Section 8 declaration/Section 9 renewal: Within one year before the end of every 10-year period after the registration date, or within the six-month grace period thereafter, the registration owner must file a Combined Declaration of Use or Excusable Nonuse/Application for Renewal under Sections 8 & 9. Failure to make these required filings will result in cancellation and/or expiration of the registration. 所有人递交声明/延期：在登记日之后每10年结束之前的一年内，或在其后的六个月的宽限期内，所有人必须递交使用声明或免于使用声明/申请延期。未能遵照这些要求的，将导致登记的取消及/或登记的到期。
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