Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) Webcast Today

The Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) will webcast its meeting today beginning at 9:00 EST. [Announcement here.] TTAB Acting Chief Judge Gerard F. Rogers is scheduled to appear from 10:20 to 11:20 to discuss the topics listed below:

Discussion with TTAB Judge Gerard Rogers regarding TTAB matters.

1. Brief report on current TTAB speed statistics and case volume statistics.
2. Status report on preparing a request for comments on:
   • A possible, alternative fast-track for TTAB opposition and cancellation cases.
   • Making the TTAB more assertive in encouraging settlement.
   • Possible limits on consented extensions.
3. Status report on getting TBMP up to date, easily searchable and in HTML, including plans for frequency of updates after this revision.
4. Report on recent developments with ACR, if any.
   • When will there be more procedures or structure available to potential users of ACR?
5. Discussion regarding how TTAB deals with cases that have lingered on the docket for a very long time.
6. Discussion of progress toward the TPAC goal of increasing number of precedential TTAB decisions.
7. Report on change to rules of evidence for proving USPTO records in TTAB proceedings.