# TMEP § 803.02(a): Individual

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02(a)

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 803.02(a)
- **Heading:** Individual
- **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 § 803.02(a)

## Text

If the applicant is an individual person who is doing
business under an assumed business name, the individual’s name should be set forth,
followed by an assumed name designation (e.g., d.b.a., a.k.a., or t.a.) and by the
assumed business name.
See
37 C.F.R.
§2.32(a)(2)
.
If an individual indicates that the individual is doing
business under a corporate designation (e.g., Corporation, Corp., Incorporated, Inc.,
Limited, Ltd.), the USPTO will presume that relevant state law permits such a
practice.  The assumed name will be included on the registration certificate.
If the application reflects an inconsistency between the
owner name and the entity type as to whether a corporation or an individual owns the
mark, the examining attorney must require the applicant to clarify the record
regarding ownership (e.g., if the name of an individual appears as the applicant, but
the entity is listed as a corporation, or if a business is named as the applicant but
the entity is listed as an individual).  However, in view of the broad definition of
a “person properly authorized to sign on behalf of the owner” in
37 C.F.R.
§2.193(e)(1)
(
see
TMEP
§§611.03(a)
,
804.04
), the fact that the title of the person signing an
application refers to a different entity is not in itself considered an inconsistency
between owner and entity type that would warrant an inquiry as to who owns the
mark.
See
TMEP
§803.03(a)
for information about identifying an individual
applicant’s entity type, and
TMEP
§§803.06
and
1201.02(c)
regarding USPTO policies
regarding correction of an applicant’s name and entity type.

## 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)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S803.02(a). Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.