# TMEP § 1503.05: Opposition to §66(a) Applications

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1503.05

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 1503.05
- **Heading:** Opposition to §66(a) Applications
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 1500 - Post-Examination Procedures / TMEP § 1503.05

## Text

Trademark Act §68(a)(2),
15 U.S.C.
§1141h(a)(2)
, provides that a request for extension of protection
is subject to opposition under Trademark Act §13,
15 U.S.C.
§1063
.  The USPTO must notify the International Bureau of the
World Intellectual Property Organization (IB) within 18 months of the date the IB sends
the request for extension of protection to the USPTO of:  (1) a notification of refusal
based on the filing of an opposition; or (2) a notification of the possibility that an
opposition may be filed after expiration of the 18-month period.
15 U.S.C.
§1141h(c)(1)(B)-(C)
;
see
TMEP
§§1904.03
,
1904.04
.
An opposition to a §66(a) application, or a request for
extension of time to oppose a §66(a) application, must be filed through the Board’s
electronic filing system and may not be filed in paper form under any circumstances.
37
C.F.R. §§2.101(b)(3)
,
2.102(a)(1)
;
TBMP §309.01
;
see
In re Börlind Gesellschaft für kosmetische Erzeugnisse mbH
, Ser. No.
79000042, 2005 TTAB LEXIS 72, at *2-3 (2005).
Once filed, an opposition to a §66(a) application may not
be amended to add to the grounds for opposition, to add to the goods/services opposed,
or to add a joint opposer.
37 C.F.R.
§§2.104(c)
,
2.107(b)
. The opposition is limited to the goods, services,
grounds, and named opposers set forth in the opposition form cover sheet generated by
the Board’s electronic filing system.
37 C.F.R.
§§2.104(c)
,
2.107(b)
(“The grounds for opposition, the goods
or services opposed, and the named opposers are limited to those identified in the ESTTA
cover sheet regardless of what is contained in any attached statement.”);
Sterling Computs. Corp. v. IBM Corp.
, Opp. No. 91273043, 2023 TTAB
LEXIS 331, at *8-9 (2023);
CSC Holdings, LLC v. SAS Optimhome
, Opp.
No. 91199973, 2011 TTAB LEXIS 245, at *8-11 (2011);
see
TBMP §315
. The notice
of opposition must also include all fees for each party opposer to oppose the
registration in all classes specified in the opposition.
37 C.F.R. §2.101(d)
n any attached statement.”);
Sterling Computs. Corp. v. IBM Corp.
, Opp. No. 91273043, 2023 TTAB
LEXIS 331, at *8-9 (2023);
CSC Holdings, LLC v. SAS Optimhome
, Opp.
No. 91199973, 2011 TTAB LEXIS 245, at *8-11 (2011);
see
TBMP §315
. The notice
of opposition must also include all fees for each party opposer to oppose the
registration in all classes specified in the opposition.
37 C.F.R. §2.101(d)
.
An opposer cannot amend its pleading to include common
law trademark rights not previously identified on the Board’s electronic filing system
cover sheet.
Sterling Computs. Corp. v. IBM Corp.
, 2023 TTAB LEXIS
331, at *9. However, if a §1(a) use-based application or registration is identified on
the cover sheet as a likelihood of confusion grounds for opposition against a §66(a)
application, this claim would be sufficient to satisfy the requirement to notify the IB
of an opposer’s reliance on common law rights that are coterminous with the pleaded
application or registration.
Id.
at *12-13.
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## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 1501 Appeal to Trademark Trial and Appeal Board](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.01 Appealable Matter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.02(a) Applicant’s Appeal Brief](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1501.02(b) Examining Attorney’s Appeal Brief](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.02(b).md)
- [TMEP § 1501.02(c) Reply Briefs in Ex Parte Appeals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.02(c).md)
- [TMEP § 1501.03 Withdrawal of Refusal or Requirement After Appeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.03.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.04 Fee for Appeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.04.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.05 Amendment During Appeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.05.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.06 Amendment After Decision on Appeal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.06.md)
- [TMEP § 1501.07 Examining Attorney’s Request for Reconsideration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1501.07.md)
- [TMEP § 1502 Publication in Trademark Official Gazette](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1502.md)
- [TMEP § 1502.01 Notification of Clerical Errors in Trademark Official Gazette](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1502.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1503.01 Filing a Notice of Opposition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1503.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1503.02 Joining Persons in an Opposition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1503.02.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1503.05. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.