Fortis clients should be aware that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) received a record-high number of trademark application submissions in 2022. Unfortunately, the USPTO is also experiencing a shortage of staff to process and review submissions.
As a result, processing times are delayed, and applications are taking significantly longer than usual, up to twice as long as they did in 2020.
Current expected wait times are as follows:
- Initial Review: Allow approximately eight months for the trademark office to review applications initially.
- Registration/Other Resolution: The average application now takes nearly 14 months to reach registration/resolution.
For more information, click here to review the notice posted on the USPTO website.
As the number of applications submitted to the trademark office increases, registration may become more difficult. Clients who are invested in their brands should consider applying as soon as possible.
Fortis Partner Andrew Comer leads the firm’s trademark practice group and is always available to advise clients on trademark registration, applications and brand protection. Do not hesitate to reach out to him at acomer@fortislawpartners.com with any questions or for assistance applying for a trademark.
