The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) announced last month a new Virtual Assistant chat box (see above image) on various of its Trademark webpages in its efforts to help increase the usability of its site for all applicants, registrants and trademark practitioners.  The chat bot will surely improve over time, but it can already today provide basic guidance with respect to various basis trademark questions. More complex questions still stump it at this time, but the agency’s attempts to explore the use of artificial intelligence to help the public is appreciated.  Try out the assistant, which is in beta test mode today. It is available on the following pages:

• Trademark Basics  
• What is a trademark?  
• Checking the status of your application 
• Trademark Assistance Center 
• Contact Trademarks 
• Other trademark contact information