All correspondence that requires a signature must bear either a handwritten signature personally signed in permanent ink by the person named as the signatory, or an "electronic signature" that meets the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.193(c), personally entered by the signatory. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(a). The USPTO will accept a signature that meets the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.193(c) on all correspondence, whether included in a permitted paper submission (see TMEP §301.01) or in a submission through the trademark electronic filing system or the Board’s electronic filing system. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(a)(2). See TMEP §611.01(c) regarding the signature of documents filed electronically.

Personally Signed or Entered. All documents must be personally signed or bear an electronic signature that was personally entered by the named signatory. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(a)(1), (c)(1). A person may not delegate their authority to sign, and no person may sign or enter the name of another. See In re Stelcore Mgmt. Servs., LLC, 2025 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 3, at *5 (Dir USPTO 2025) (sanctions); In re Zhang, 2021 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 2, at *10, *13 (Dir USPTO 2021) (sanctions); In re Dermahose Inc., Ser. No. 76585901, 2007 TTAB LEXIS 25, at *9 (2007); In re Cowan, Reg. No. 1225389, 1990 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 24, at *6 (Comm’r Pats. 1990). For example, a paralegal, legal assistant, or secretary may not sign or enter the name of an attorney or other authorized signatory.

Any document that is signed by a person other than the named signatory, is improperly executed, and cannot be relied upon to support registration. See In re Stelcore Mgmt. Servs., LLC, 2025 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 3, at *5; In re Zhang, 2021 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 2, at *10. The examining attorney will not question whether a document is personally signed or entered by the named signatory. However, a signature that is not personally signed or personally entered "may jeopardize the validity of [an] application or registration" and may result in the imposition of sanctions following an administrative review. 37 C.F.R. §§2.193(f), 11.18(b), (c); see Trademarks Administrative Sanctions Process, 87 Fed. Reg. 431 (January 5, 2022). Therefore, these signature requirements are not merely technical in nature but rather are substantive. In re Stelcore Mgmt. Servs., LLC, 2025 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 3, at *5. Certain defective signatures cannot be corrected or perfected under 35 U.S.C. §26. Id. at 3, at *8-9 ("[S]erious defects and those not borne out of an exercise of reasonable care are neither correctable nor able to be perfected") (citing In re Weider, Reg. No. 990933, 1981 Commr. Pat. LEXIS 5, at *5 (Comm'r Pats. 1981)). For example, "if additional rule violations or Terms of Use violations are later discovered," a defective signature cannot be cured to avoid the imposition of sanctions. Id. at *9.

Name and Title or Position of Signatory. The first and last name, and the title or position, of the person who signs a document must be set forth immediately below or adjacent to the signature. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(d). If the signatory’s name is not provided in full or set forth in a document, the USPTO will require that the signatory’s first and last name be stated for the record. This information can be entered through a Note to the File (also referred to as a Public Note or Notation to File) in the record.

Documents must be signed by a proper party. See TMEP §611.02 and §§611.03–611.03(i) for further information.

See TBMP §106.02 regarding signature of documents filed in Board proceedings, and §106.03 regarding the form of submissions in Board proceedings.