# TMEP § 702.03(a)(i): Companion Applications Not Previously Assigned for the Same or Similar Marks

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(i)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 702.03(a)(i)
- **Heading:** Companion Applications Not Previously Assigned for the Same or Similar Marks
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 0700 - Procedure for Examining Applications / TMEP § 702.03(a)(i)

## Text

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.

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 701 Statutory Authority for Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S701.md)
- [TMEP § 702.01 Order of Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.01.md)
- [TMEP § 702.02 “Special” Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.02.md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(a) Companion Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a).md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(a)(i) Companion Applications Not Previously Assigned for the Same or Similar Marks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(i).md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(a)(ii) Companion Applications Previously Assigned](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(ii).md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(a)(iii) Companion Registrations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(iii).md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(a)(iv) Classification and Identification in Companion Applications that Have Registered or Been Published for Opposition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(iv).md)
- [TMEP § 702.03(b) Conflicting Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(b).md)
- [TMEP § 703 USPTO Does Not Issue Duplicate Registrations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S703.md)
- [TMEP § 704.01 Initial Examination Must Be Complete](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S704.01.md)
- [TMEP § 704.02 Examining Attorney’s Search](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S704.02.md)
- [TMEP § 704.03 Supervisory Examining Attorney May Indicate Action for Non-Signatory Examining Attorney](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S704.03.md)
- [TMEP § 705 The Examining Attorney’s Letter or Action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S705.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S702.03(a)(i). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.