Trademark application processing time has doubled

[Dana Dickson Law, 7-6-21, trademark lawyer, former USPTO worker, “Record-breaking backlog at the USPTO,” https://www.danadicksonlaw.com/post/record-breaking-backlog-at-the-uspto, 7-09-24, EP]

The USPTO is struggling to deal with an unprecedented volume of trademark applications. The result is unpredictable wait times for processing of applications and any documents related to them. Back when I reviewed trademark applications at the USPTO, the goal was always to review every application within three months or less after the filing date. Current wait times are more than twice as long. In early July, I am still waiting for the USPTO to review applications that I filed in late December of last year – that’s more than six full months. I feel bad for my clients and for the current examining attorneys at the Trademark Office - the job already places them under tremendous time pressure, even in the best of circumstances.