Companion Applications Not Previously Assigned for the Same or Similar Marks

If an applicant has multiple pending applications, the

issues in the applications are likely to be similar.  When assigned a new

application, an examining attorney will be assigned the companion applications

filed within three months of the filing date of the first assigned application.

If an applicant files more than ten applications within a three‑month period,

only the first ten will be assigned to one examining attorney.  Examining

attorneys are encouraged to assign all unassigned companion applications for the

same or similar marks to themselves, even if the applications were filed outside

the three-month period. However, any companion applications may only be

self-assigned by the examining attorney at the time of initial examination of the

new application.

The assignment of companion applications is done

electronically, based upon the owner’s name as set forth in the application.

Therefore, the owner’s name should be set forth consistently in all

applications.

See

TMEP

§702.03(a)(iv)

regarding classification and

identification in companion applications that have been published for

opposition.