The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) is a reference work on the practices and procedures relative to prosecution of applications to register marks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It contains guidelines for USPTO examining attorneys, trademark applicants and owners, and attorneys and representatives for trademark applicants and owners. The TMEP contains information about the trademark examination process, and outlines the procedures which examining attorneys are required or authorized to follow in the examination of trademark applications.