# TMEP § 801.02(a): Act of 1946, Principal Register

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.02(a)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 801.02(a)
- **Heading:** Act of 1946, Principal Register
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 0800 - Application Requirements / TMEP § 801.02(a)

## Text

The primary provision for registration in the Trademark
Act of 1946 is for registration on the Principal Register (15 U.S.C. §§1051–1072).
When a mark has been registered on the Principal Register, the mark is entitled to
all the rights provided by the Act.  The advantages of owning a registration on the
Principal Register include the following:
Constructive notice to the public of the
registrant’s claim of ownership of the mark (15 U.S.C. §1072);
A legal presumption of the registrant’s ownership of
the mark and the registrant’s exclusive right to use the mark in commerce on or
in connection with the goods/services listed in the registration
(
15 U.S.C. §§1057(b)
,
1115(a)
);
A date of constructive use of the mark as of the
filing date of the application (
15 U.S.C.
§1057(c)
;
TMEP §201.02
);
The ability to bring an action concerning the mark
in federal court (15 U.S.C. §1121);
The ability to file the United States registration
with the United States Customs Service to prevent importation of infringing
foreign goods (15 U.S.C. §1124);
The registrant’s exclusive right to use a mark in
commerce on or in connection with the goods or services covered by the
registration can become “incontestable,” subject to certain statutory defenses
(
15 U.S.C. §§1065
,
1115(b)
); and
The use of the United States registration as a
basis to obtain registration in foreign countries.
If the applicant does not specify a register, the United
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will presume that the applicant seeks
registration on the Principal Register.

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 801 Types of Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.md)
- [TMEP § 801.01(a) Single (Single-Class) Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.01(a).md)
- [TMEP § 801.01(b) Combined (Multiple-Class) Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.01(b).md)
- [TMEP § 801.02(a) Act of 1946, Principal Register](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 801.02(b) Act of 1946, Supplemental Register](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.02(b).md)
- [TMEP § 802 Application Form](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S802.md)
- [TMEP § 803.01 Who May Apply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.01.md)
- [TMEP § 803.02 Name of Applicant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02.md)
- [TMEP § 803.02(a) Individual](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02(a).md)
- [TMEP § 803.02(b) Partnership, Joint Venture, or Other “Firm”](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02(b).md)
- [TMEP § 803.02(c) Corporation and Association](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02(c).md)
- [TMEP § 803.03 Legal Entity of Applicant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.03.md)
- [TMEP § 803.03(a) Individual or Sole Proprietorship](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.03(a).md)
- [TMEP § 803.03(b) Partnership, Joint Venture, or Other “Firm”](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.03(b).md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S801.02(a). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.