Overview[]
The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) is a reference work on the practices and procedures relative to prosecution of applications to register marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It contains guidelines for USPTO examining attorneys, trademark applicants and owners, and attorneys and representatives for trademark applicants and owners. The TMEP contains information about the trademark examination process, and outlines the procedures which examining attorneys are required or authorized to follow in the examination of trademark applications.
On October 30, 2015, the USPTO issued the October 2015 Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure ("TMEP"), which incorporates USPTO trademark practice and relevant case law that was reported prior to October 1, 2015. The policies stated in this revision supersede any previous policies stated in prior editions, examination guides, or any other statement of USPTO policy, to the extent that there is any conflict.