# TMEP § 1904.03(a): Notice Must Be Sent Within 18 Months

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1904.03(a)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 1904.03(a)
- **Heading:** Notice Must Be Sent Within 18 Months
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 1900 - Madrid Protocol / TMEP § 1904.03(a)

## Text

Within 18 months of the date the IB forwards a request
for extension of protection, the USPTO must transmit:
(1) A notification of refusal based on
examination;
(2) A notification of refusal based on the filing of
an opposition; or
(3) A notification of the possibility that an
opposition may be filed after expiration of the 18-month period.  If the USPTO
notifies the IB of the possibility of opposition, it must send the notification
of refusal within 7 months after the beginning of the opposition period, or
within one month after the end of opposition period, whichever is earlier.
15 U.S.C.
§1141h(c)
; Article 5.
If the USPTO does not send a notification of refusal
of the request for extension of protection to the IB within 18 months, the request
for extension of protection cannot be refused.
15 U.S.C.
§1141h(c)(4)
; Article 5(5); Regs. Rules 17(2)(iv),
18(1)(a)(iii).  If the USPTO sends a notification of refusal, no grounds of refusal
other than those set forth in the notice can be raised more than 18 months after the
date on which the IB forwards the request for extension of protection to the USPTO.
15 U.S.C. §1141h(c)(3)
.
If upon re-examination the examining attorney
determines a new ground of refusal exists that should have been raised in the first
Office action, a second Office action raising this new ground may be issued only if
time remains in the 18-month period.  In such a case, the examining attorney must
ensure that a notification of the new ground of refusal is sent to the IB.

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 1901 Overview of the Madrid System of International Registration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1901.md)
- [TMEP § 1902 International Application Originating from the United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.md)
- [TMEP § 1902.01 Who Can File](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.01.md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02 Minimum Requirements for Date of Receipt of International Application in USPTO](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02.md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(a) Form of International Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(b) Basic Application or Registration Number](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(b).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(c) Name and Addresses of Applicant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(c).md)
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- [TMEP § 1902.02(f) Identification of Goods/Services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(f).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(f)(i) House Marks and “Full Line of …”](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(f)(i).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(f)(ii) Providing a Website/Online Portal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(f)(ii).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(g) Classification in International Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(g).md)
- [TMEP § 1902.02(g)(i) Reclassifying Goods/Services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1902.02(g)(i).md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S1904.03(a). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.