Statement Of Use

Statement Of Use

USPTO Guide To Trademark Statement of Use (SOU)

When the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues a Notice of Allowance (NOA), the applicants must immediately file a Trademark Statement of Use (SOU) to demonstrate the active use of their trademark in the relevant market. Correct and timely filing of the Statement of Use trademark USPTO form is crucial in relocating your trademark from “Intent-To-Use” to complete registration.

What To Include In Statement of Use

The following details have to be included while preparing your Statement of Use USPTO filing:

Applicant Information:
The complete legal name and address of the current owner.

Specimen:
A tangible proof displaying your trademark in use, including tags, packaging, labels, or advertisements for services. It could be very helpful to use a Trademark Statement of Use example to make it easier for you to correctly format this.

Date of First Use in Commerce:
The day when goods or services were first sold or offered across state borders to the customers.

Goods/Services:
The goods or services list associated with the mark that should be the same as your original application.

Declaration:
A written statement endorsed by the signer declaring the truth and correctness of the information given.

Filing Fee:
The payment of the Statement of Use trademark fee is required, and it is charged for each class of goods or services.

What Happens After Filing

The application moves to the examination stage after you file Statement of Use trademark forms:

Examination:
An attorney in USPTO examines the SOU for precision and observance.

Approval:
If all conditions are satisfied by the SOU, your registration certificate will be issued usually within a few months.

Rejection:
In case there are problems, an office action will be sent to you detailing the difficulties. You will be required to address these within the allotted period, or your application will be considered abandoned.

Trademark Statement of Use Extension and Deadlines:
A Statement of Use with the USPTO has to be filed within six months after receiving the Notice of Allowance. In case you need more time, you can ask for a Trademark Statement of Use extension, which comes with its own fee as well.

A total of five extensions can be filed, which gives you three years altogether from the date of the NOA to file your SOU. If you fail to meet these deadlines, your application will be rejected and you will have to reapply again.