As TTABlogger John Welch pointed out on Friday, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has published the third edition of the Trademark Board Manual of Procedure (TMBP).
Nonlawyers, newbies, and non-trademark specialists, take note. This is a valuable resource.
Experienced TTAB practitioners routinely consult the TBMP for quick guidance on procedure. It’s easy.
The third edition incorporates changes in the law through November 15, 2010. It’s downloadable as a complete book; it’s searchable; it’s indexed; and it’s easily browsable. There’s even a table describing updates from the second edition, which the TTAB published in 2004.
This version covers the discovery conference, initial disclosure, expert disclosure, and pretrial disclosure obligations the Board began to require in November 2007. It also details the Board’s Accelerated Case Resolution program, its effort to streamline cases and save parties money.
Clearly, the TTAB put a lot of work into this. Take advantage of it. I know I will.