USPTO Transitions to Electronic Trademark Registration Certificates

As of May 24, 2022, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a change in the federal trademark registration process by issuing electronic trademark registration certificates instead of sending paper certificates by mail to registrants. According to the USPTO, this process assists in the transition to fully electronic processing of trademark applications and registrations as well as in response to customer input requesting digital certificates instead of paper for ease of use and record-keeping. The USPTO also believes issuing electronic registration certificates will decrease the time necessary for trademark owners to obtain a registration certificate and make them generally more accessible.

Electronic certificates will be issued by the USPTO with a digital seal to authenticate the registration and will be emailed to trademark owners and all emails of record associated with the trademark. Consistent with past practice, registration certificates will still be uploaded and accessible through the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval System (TSDR). If desired, paper registration certificates may be requested. Trademark owners who filed prior to May 24, 2022 may request a paper certificate at no charge. Applicants filing after that date can request a paper certificate for $25. There is no change to the process to obtain a certified copy of a trademark registration.