The USPTO has amended the Rules of Practice in Trademark Cases to require applicants, registrants, or parties to a trademark proceeding whose domicile is not located in the United States or its territories to be represented by an attorney who is in an active member in good standing of the bar of a state in the United States.
A stated purpose of the rule change is to instill greater confidence in the public that U.S. trademark registrations that issue to foreign applicants are not subject to invalidation for reasons such as improper signatures and use claims. Another stated purpose is to enable the USPTO to more effectively use available mechanisms to enforce foreign applicant compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements in trademark matters.
The rule change is effective on August 3, 2019.