Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) Update
Summary
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has released an updated version of its Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP), dated November 2025. This manual provides guidelines for examining attorneys and serves as a reference for trademark applicants and their representatives regarding USPTO examination practices.
What changed
The USPTO has published an updated version of the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP), with a publication date of November 2025. This manual is intended for trademark examining attorneys, applicants, and their representatives, outlining the practices and procedures for prosecuting trademark applications. It clarifies that the guidelines within the TMEP do not carry the force of law but are for internal office management and do not create enforceable rights against the USPTO.
While this update is classified as minor and non-binding, compliance officers should ensure their teams are aware of the latest version of the TMEP for reference in trademark prosecution matters. The USPTO welcomes suggestions for improving the manual, which can be submitted via email or mail to the Commissioner for Trademarks.
What to do next
- Review the November 2025 update to the TMEP for any changes relevant to trademark prosecution.
- Ensure internal legal teams and representatives are aware of the latest TMEP version.
Source document (simplified)
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TRADEMARK MANUAL OF EXAMINING PROCEDURE (TMEP)
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) may be downloaded free of charge from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website at http://www.uspto.gov/trademark/guides-and-manuals/tmep-archives.
The Manual is published to provide trademark examining attorneys in the USPTO, trademark applicants, and attorneys and representatives for trademark applicants with a reference work on the practices and procedures relative to prosecution of applications to register marks in the USPTO. The Manual contains guidelines for Examining Attorneys and materials in the nature of information and interpretation, and outlines the procedures which Examining Attorneys are required or authorized to follow in the examination of trademark applications.
Trademark Examining Attorneys will be governed by the applicable statutes, the Trademark Rules of Practice, decisions, and Orders and Notices issued by the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commissioners, or Deputy Commissioners. The guidelines set forth in this Manual do not have the force and effect of law. They have been developed as a matter of internal office management and are not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party against the office. Policies stated in this revision supersede any previous policies stated in prior editions, examination guides, or any other statement of Office policy, to the extent that there is any conflict.
Suggestions for improving the form and content of the Manual are always welcome. They should be emailed to tmtmep@uspto.gov, or addressed to:
Commissioner for Trademarks
Attention: Editor, Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure
P.O. Box 1451
Alexandria
Virginia
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