In this Alert, we reported on the new email address rule. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), based on objections from trademark attorneys throughout the U.S., has now modified the new email address rule to permit appointed attorneys to both establish and monitor the new email address for trademark applicants and registrants.

Previously, the USPTO had required the applicants and registrants to create and monitor the new public email address. While the likelihood that these email addresses, which will be publicly disclosed, will be bombarded with spam exists, it is now the attorneys who will be responsible for monitoring.