# TMEP § 702.03(a)(iii): Companion Registrations

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

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

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 702.03(a)(iii)
- **Heading:** Companion Registrations
- **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)(iii)

## Text

If the applicant previously filed a companion
application that has matured into a registration, the examining attorney should
not
transfer their application to the prior
examining attorney.  Generally, in the later application, the examining attorney
should act consistently with the registration, unless it would be clear error
(
see
TMEP §706.01
)
to act consistently.  However, the USPTO is not bound by the decisions of the
examining attorneys who examined the applications for the applicant’s previously
registered marks, based on different records.  Eligibility for registration must
be determined on the basis of the facts that exist at the time registration is
sought.
See
TMEP
§1216.01
and cases cited therein.
See
TMEP
§702.03(a)(iv)
regarding classification and
identification in companion registrations.

## 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)

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