USPTO Swaps Specific Names for Generic Terms in Madrid Rules
Published Date: 7/15/2026
Rule
Summary
The USPTO is updating its rules to swap out specific electronic filing system names with more general terms for submitting international trademark applications under the Madrid Protocol. This change won’t affect how you file or any fees—it just makes the language clearer and easier to follow. The new rule kicks in on July 15, 2026, and applies to anyone filing international trademark paperwork from the U.S.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Fees paid to WIPO in Swiss francs
When you use the Madrid e‑Filing system to submit a U.S. office of origin international application, all fees are paid directly to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and will be charged in the Swiss franc equivalent of the U.S. dollar amount at the time of the transaction.
Mandatory trademark e‑filing and email
Starting July 15, 2026, all correspondence filed with the USPTO relating to international trademark applications and registrations originating from the U.S. must be submitted through the "trademark electronic filing system" and must include a valid email address for correspondence.
TEAS access preserved through Sept 2026
TEAS (the USPTO filing system) will remain available for filing U.S. office of origin international applications until at least September 2026 and for responses to notices of irregularity until all international applications originally filed through TEAS reach final disposition. Trademark Center will eventually replace TEAS.
Paper filings allowed by petition if e‑system down
If the trademark electronic filing system is unavailable or there is an extraordinary situation, an applicant or registrant required to file electronically may submit a petition to the Director under Sec. 2.146(a)(5) and (c) to accept the submission filed on paper.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17525, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency"), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-0054 (Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comments preceding submission of the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
2026-17524, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Appeals
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency") will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. The USPTO invites comments on the information collection renewal of 0651-0063, which helps the USPTO assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden to the public. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 20, 2026, during a 60-day comment period (91 FR 20986). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
2026-16744, Request for Comments on Community Outreach Office Locations in the Southwest States
The USPTO wants your ideas on where to open new community outreach offices in the Southwest states like Arizona and Texas. These offices will help inventors, small businesses, and students get better support with patents. Share your thoughts by September 16, 2026, so the USPTO can pick the best spots and keep innovation booming without extra costs to you!
2026-16315, Administrative Updates to the General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration To Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Starting August 11, 2026, the USPTO is upgrading Biomedical Science degrees from Category B to Category A for patent bar eligibility. This means more people with this degree can now take the patent exam and become patent practitioners. No extra fees or delays—just a smoother path for those with the right science background to join the patent world!
2026-14939, Grant of Interim Extension of the Term of U.S. Patent No. 8,877,798; Centanafadine Hydrochloride
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical got a one-year extra patent life for their drug centanafadine hydrochloride because the FDA review is still going on. This means their patent, which was set to expire on July 25, 2026, now lasts until July 25, 2027. This extension helps Otsuka keep exclusive rights to their drug a bit longer while waiting for final FDA approval.
2026-14941, Grant of Interim Extension of the Term of U.S. Patent No. 8,461,196; Centanafadine Hydrochloride
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical got a one-year extra patent life for their drug centanafadine hydrochloride because the FDA review is still going on. This means they keep exclusive rights to the drug until July 25, 2027, giving them more time to sell it without competition. This extension helps the company protect their investment while the drug gets final approval.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-14224, Safety Zone; Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH
On July 18, 2026, the Coast Guard is setting up a temporary safety zone on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland to keep everyone safe during a big paddling race. Boats and people can’t enter the zone unless they get special permission. This rule only lasts from 8:15 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. and helps prevent accidents and protect the environment.
Next: 2026-14244, Montana Regulatory Program
Montana updated its coal mining rules to say that if heavy storms overflow siltation ponds, operators won’t be in trouble as long as they built the ponds right and fix them quickly when they can. This change, approved by the federal government, affects coal mine operators and kicks in on August 14, 2026. It helps protect operators from penalties during extreme weather without costing extra money upfront.