依照美國商標法律Section 8&15, 注冊日起，每滿5-6年，以及9-10年，需要提供提交Declaration of Use Incontestability，俗稱“實際使用聲明”根據 Section 8 Affidavit & Section 9，每滿10年，需要遞交renewal，即續展。 一般而言，續展都是比較順利的。但在極其罕見的情況下，為確保美國商標注冊的正確和完整性，專利局會對隨機選擇的商標注冊人進行審計檢查（Registration Selected for Audit），對注冊人下發“續展前實質審查意見”（POST REGISTRATION OFFICE ACTION）。

        這種隨機抽取的審計在法律屬性上屬于OFFICE ACTION，即實質審查意見的一種。作為注冊人，必須針對審查員隨機選擇的其注冊核準范圍內的兩項（數量隨機）產品/服務項目，再遞交實際使用證明。并簽署一份宣誓詞，表明自己所遞交的證據均為真實有效善意的。

具體實例:

我所代理的U.S. Registration Number 3397283，注冊日期為2008年，2018年遞交續展請求，予以受理，隨后發出審計檢查（Registration Selected for Audit）全文如下：

POST REGISTRATION OFFICE ACTION

ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 1/13/2018

U.S. Registration Number 3397283

The Combined Affidavit, Combined Section 8 Affidavit & Section 9 Renewal Application received on December 13, 2017, is  otherwise acceptable; however, the owner of the registration must comply with an audit as explained below.

Registration Selected for Audit

The USPTO is performing random audits of US trademark registrations to assess and promote the accuracy and integrity of the trademark register.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.161(h), 7.37(h). This registration has been randomly selected for audit to determine whether the mark is in use with all of the goods and/or services identified in the registration.

To comply with the audit, you must submit proof of use of the registered mark for two additional goods and/or services per class. Id. If proof of use for the goods and/or services identified is not available, the identified goods and/or services and any other goods and/or services not currently in use should be deleted from the registration.

Therefore, the owner or holder/owner must submit the following:

(1) Proof of current use of the registered mark in commerce for the following goods and/or services:

“computer software for optical instruments used for analyzing and managing data” and “integrating spheres, namely, light collectors used for luminance and radiance standards” in International Class 9; and

(2) The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:  “The owner or holder/owner was using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services identified in the registration for which use of the mark in commerce is claimed, as evidenced by the submitted proof of use, during the relevant period for filing the affidavit of use.”  37 C.F.R.§§2.161(h), 7.37(h).

Acceptable proof of use for goods includes photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, or photographs of displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale.  A tag or label that is not shown affixed to the goods is not acceptable proof of use. Similarly, a package that does not show or identify the goods therein is not acceptable proof of use. Acceptable proof of use for services includes signs, photographs, brochures, website printouts or advertisements that show the mark used in the actual sale or advertising of the services.

        如前所述，商標注冊人所提交的使用證明，本來是可以接受的。 但是美國商標局正在進行一個隨機的審計檢查以確保美國商標注冊的正確和完整性，而您客戶的商標不巧正好被隨機選中抽查。您的客戶必須在 指定日期之前對這個Office Action 進行回復。為了滿足這個審計要求，必須提供商標局指定的另外兩項注冊商品的使用證明。如果您的客戶不能提供這另外兩項注冊商品的使用證明，或者要求刪除這兩項指定的注冊商品，那商標局會發新的 OA 要求注冊人為其他所有尚未提供使用證明的注冊產品，提供使用證明。所有不能提供使用證明的注冊產品都會從注冊證中刪除。商標局指定的需提供使用證明的另外兩項注冊商品是：

1.“computer software for optical instruments used for analyzing and managing data” （用于光學設備上的分析和管理數據的電腦軟件）

2. “integrating spheres, namely, light collectors（積算球形儀，即 用于測試亮度和輻射率的聚光器） 

        因為是審計用的使用證明，所以要求比一般的使用證明嚴格。 可以接受的使用證明是：顯示商標使用在實際產品或包裝上的照片， 或者帶有商標的產品說明書；或則是有商標展示的實際產品銷售處的照片，或則是公司英文網站同時顯示產品圖片和定購此產品的網上定購鏈接。因此， 關于電腦軟件， 可以提供 用于網上下載電腦軟件的“電腦或手機APP” 的界面截圖，或者此電腦軟件的DVD/CD 等 （但這個手機APP 或dvd的名字一定要顯示商標 EVERFINE）。但是沒有實附在產品上的商標標簽或標牌不可以接受。而單純的沒有顯示內裝商品的商品包裝也不被接受。

除了提供實際使用證據，當事人還需要簽署如下宣誓詞

FORM DECLARATION

Please note that the below statement verifying proof of use is slightly different than the standard substitute specimen statement.

The following statement and declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 can be used to verify the use of the mark as evidenced by the item(s) submitted as proof of use, if properly signed and dated:

The owner or holder/owner was using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services identified in the registration for which use of the mark in commerce is claimed, as evidenced by the submitted proof of use, during the relevant period for filing the affidavit of use.

The signatory being warned that willful false statements and the like are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C.

§1001, and that such willful false statements and the like may jeopardize the validity of this submission, declares that the facts set forth above are true; all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true; and that all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.

Signature of Authorized Person

Type or Print Name

        請注意，以下證明使用證明的說明與標準替代標本說明略有不同。

        根據37 C.F.R以下聲明和聲明§2.20可以用來驗證商標的使用情況，如果提供的是正確的簽名和日期，則以提交的作為使用證據的項目為證。

        所有人或持有人/所有人正在使用商標上的商標和（或）與注冊中確定的商標和/或服務相關的商標，這些商標和/或服務是在提交的商標使用中聲明的提交使用宣誓書的期限。

        簽字人被警告說，根據美國法律第18條，故意虛假陳述等應被罰款或監禁，或兩者兼施。

第1001條，而這種虛假的陳述等可能會損害本文的正確性，并聲明上述事實屬實;所有由他/她自己的知識所作的陳述都是真實的;并且所有關于信息和信仰的陳述都被認為是正確。的。                       

        授權人簽署

        綜上所述，盡管，在續展過程中遇到審查意見是極其極其罕見的情況。 但如不答復，會面臨無效。因此無形之中給當事人增加了經濟上和精力上的負擔。 作為隨機抽取發生的時間，這類審查意見的發生我們是無法避免的.。但作為商標注冊人，在海外，尤其是美國等法律制度相對健全，細致的國家，首先，對于不在當地進行實際生產、銷售活動的商標及商品服務項目，切記千萬不要大面積撒網式的搶注. 即使當時申請了，后期也會因為無法提供實物證據而被無效. 第二，應注意做好平常保留證據的工作。如海關報關清單，訂購，加工，運輸合同；參加各類展會的照片，包括展會的時間地點門頭等信息一定要保存好；刊登在各類報刊雜志上的拷貝本或原件；外文網站的截圖，購買鏈接等等. 平常做好存留工作，使你的海外商標無憂。