# TMEP § 1201: Ownership of Mark

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1201

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 1201
- **Heading:** Ownership of Mark
- **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

## Text

Under §1(a)(1) of the Trademark Act,
15 U.S.C.
§1051(a)(1)
, a trademark or service mark application based on use
in commerce must be filed by the owner of the mark. A §1(a) application must include a
verified statement that the applicant believes the applicant is the owner of the mark
sought to be registered.
15 U.S.C.
§1051(a)(3)(A)
;
37 C.F.R.
§2.33(b)(1)
. An application that is not filed by the owner is
void.
See
TMEP §1201.02(b)
.
A trademark or service mark application under §1(b) or §44
of the Act,
15 U.S.C. §§1051(b)
,
1126
, must be filed by a party who has a bona fide intention to
use the mark in commerce as of the application filing date and include a verified
statement to that effect.
15 U.S.C. §§1051(b)(1)
,
(b)(3)(B)
,
1126(d)(2)
,
(e)
;
37 C.F.R.
§2.33(b)(2)
. When the person designated as the applicant is not
the person with a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce, the application is
void.
See
TMEP §§1008
,
1201.02(b)
.
In a §1(b) application, before the mark can be registered,
the applicant must file an amendment to allege use under
15 U.S.C.
§1051(c)
(
see
TMEP
§§1104-1104.11
) or a statement of use under
15 U.S.C.
§1051(d)
(
see
TMEP
§§1109-1109.18
) which states that the applicant is the owner
of the mark.
15 U.S.C. §1051(b)
;
37 C.F.R.
§§2.76(b)(1)(i)
,
2.88(b)(1)(i)
. See
TMEP
§1104.10(b)(i)
regarding ownership issues for an amendment to
allege use and
§1109.10
regarding ownership issues for a
statement of use.
In a §44 application, the applicant must be the owner of the
foreign application or registration on which the U.S. application is based as of the
filing date of the U.S. application.
See
TMEP
§1005
.
An application under §66(a) of the Trademark Act (i.e., a
request for extension of protection of an international registration to the United
States under the Madrid Protocol), must be filed by the holder of the international
registration.
15 U.S.C. §1141e(a)
;
37 C.F.R.
§7.25
ion or registration on which the U.S. application is based as of the
filing date of the U.S. application.
See
TMEP
§1005
.
An application under §66(a) of the Trademark Act (i.e., a
request for extension of protection of an international registration to the United
States under the Madrid Protocol), must be filed by the holder of the international
registration.
15 U.S.C. §1141e(a)
;
37 C.F.R.
§7.25
. The application must include a verified statement that the
applicant has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce.
15 U.S.C.
§1141f(a)
;
37 C.F.R.
§2.33(e)(1)
. The verified statement in a §66(a) application for a
trademark or service mark is part of the international registration on file at the
International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (IB). The IB will
have established that the international registration includes this verified statement
before it sends the request for extension of protection to the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO).
See
TMEP
§804.05
. The request for extension of protection remains part
of the international registration, and ownership is determined by the IB. See
TMEP
§501.07
regarding assignment of §66(a) applications.
The provisions discussed above also apply to collective
and certification marks with the caveat that the owner of such marks does not use the
mark or have a bona fide intention to do so, but rather exercises control over its use
by members/authorized users or has a bona fide intention, and is entitled, to exercise
such control over the use by members/authorized users.
See
15
U.S.C. §§1053
,
1054
;
TMEP §§1303.02(a)
,
1304.03(a)
,
1306.01(a)
.

## 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. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.