Many parts of the U.S. federal government have shut down this 2018 holiday season, due to political disagreement over the budget.  This issue is likely to spill over into early 2019.  However, the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) will, at least temporarily, remain open during the shutdown.

According to the USPTO, it has funds collected in the form of filing fees from the past year.  These will be used to “keep the doors open” for the next few weeks if the budget issue is not resolved.  The USPTO should still be able to accept applications, even if the shutdown forces it to temporarily close.

So if you are looking to file a trademark application, do not let the shutdown dissuade you.  You still want to file as early as possible to ensure the availability of your name for registration.  For more information, please call me at (480) 360-3499, email me at kevin@yourtrademarkattorney.com, or complete the contact form found on this page to schedule your free initial consultation today. I look forward to speaking with you.