# TMEP § 1201.03(b): Wholly Owned Related Companies

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(b)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 1201.03(b)
- **Heading:** Wholly Owned Related Companies
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 1200 - Substantive Examination of Applications / TMEP § 1201.03(b)

## Text

Frequently, related companies comprise parent and
wholly owned subsidiary corporations. Either a parent corporation or a
subsidiary corporation may be the proper applicant, depending on the facts
concerning ownership of the mark. The USPTO will consider the filing of the
application in the name of either the parent or the subsidiary to be the
expression of the intention of the parties as to ownership in accord with the
arrangements between them. However, once the application has been filed in the
name of either the parent or the wholly owned subsidiary, the USPTO will not
permit an amendment of the applicant’s name to specify the other party as the
owner. The applicant’s name can be changed only by assignment.
Furthermore, once an application has been filed in
the name of either the parent or the wholly owned subsidiary, the USPTO will not
consider documents (e.g., statements of use under
15 U.S.C.
§1051(d)
or affidavits of continued use or excusable
nonuse under
15 U.S.C.
§1058
)  filed in the name of the other party to have been
filed by the owner.
See
In re Media Cent. IP Corp.
, 65 USPQ2d 1637 (Dir USPTO 2002)
(holding §8 affidavit filed in the name of a subsidiary and predecessor in
interest of the current owner unacceptable);
In re ACE III Commc'ns,
Inc.
, 62 USPQ2d 1049 (Dir USPTO 2001) (holding §8 affidavit
unacceptable where the owner of the registration was a corporation, and the
affidavit was filed in the name of an individual who asserted that she was the
owner of the corporation).
Either an individual or a juristic entity may own a
mark that is used by a wholly owned related company.
In re
Hand
, 231 USPQ 487
(TTAB 1986).

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 1201 Ownership of Mark](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.01 Claim of Ownership May Be Based on Use By Related Companies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(a) Identifying the Applicant Properly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(c) Correcting Errors in How the Applicant Is Identified](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(c).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(d) Operating Divisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(d).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.02(e) Changes in Ownership After Application Is Filed](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.02(e).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(a) No Explanation of Use of Mark by Related Companies or Applicant’s Control Over Use of Mark by Related Companies Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(b) Wholly Owned Related Companies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(b).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(c) Common Stockholders, Directors, or Officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(c).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.03(e) License and Franchise Situations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(e).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.04 Inquiry Regarding Parties Named on Specimens or Elsewhere in Record](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.04.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.05 Acceptable Claim of Ownership Based on Applicant’s Own Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.05.md)
- [TMEP § 1201.06(a) Applicant Is Merely Distributor or Importer](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.06(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1201.06(b) Goods Manufactured in a Country Other than Where Applicant Is Located](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.06(b).md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201.03(b). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.