The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office recently announced the implementation of new, online discussion tools designed to give IP owners and practitioners an opportunity to provide public comment on how the USPTO can update and improve the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) and Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP). The Office also recently announced that it would be maintaining an index of all electronic forms available through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Previously, in order to determine the forms available online, it was necessary to drill down through several categories of filings. "The USPTO continues to demonstrate a commitment to transparency and to minimization of bureaucratic inefficiency," says Christopher Barnett, a trademark attorney with Scott & Scott, LLP. "Practitioners should find both of these new resources to be useful tools, and I expect that each should help to facilitate positive developments for the prosecution of registrations at the USPTO." For more information, please contact Mr. Barnett at 800-596-6176, or at cbarnett@scottandscottllp.com.