# TMEP § 901.01: Definitions

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.01

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 901.01
- **Heading:** Definitions
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO TMEP / Chapter 0900 - Use in Commerce / TMEP § 901.01

## Text

The power of the federal government to register marks
comes from the commerce clause of the Constitution.  Section 1 of the Trademark Act,
15 U.S.C. §1051
, permits application for
registration of “a trademark used in commerce” (
15 U.S.C.
§1051(a)
) or of a trademark that a person has a bona fide
intention to use in commerce (
15 U.S.C.
§1051(b))
.
Section 45 of the Trademark Act,
15 U.S.C.
§1127
, defines “commerce” as “all commerce which may lawfully
be regulated by Congress.”  Section 45 defines “use in commerce” as follows:
The term “use in commerce” means the bona fide use of
a mark in the ordinary course of trade, and not made merely to reserve a right
in a mark.  For purposes of this Act, a mark shall be deemed to be in use in
commerce--
(1) on goods when—
(A) it is placed in any manner on the goods or their
containers or the displays associated therewith or on the tags or labels
affixed thereto, or if the nature of the goods makes such placement
impracticable, then on documents associated with the goods or their sale,
and
(B) the goods are sold or transported in commerce,
and
(2) on services when it is used or displayed in the
sale or advertising of services and the services are rendered in commerce,
or the services are rendered in more than one State or in the United States
and a foreign country and the person rendering the services is engaged in
commerce in connection with the services.

## Nearby sections

- [TMEP § 901 Use in Commerce](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.md)
- [TMEP § 901.01 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.01.md)
- [TMEP § 901.02 Bona Fide Use in the Ordinary Course of Trade](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.02.md)
- [TMEP § 901.03 Commerce That May Be Lawfully Regulated By Congress](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.03.md)
- [TMEP § 901.04 Inquiry Regarding Use in Commerce](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.04.md)
- [TMEP § 902 Allegations of Use for §1(b) Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S902.md)
- [TMEP § 903 Dates of Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.md)
- [TMEP § 903.01 Date of First Use Anywhere](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.01.md)
- [TMEP § 903.02 Date of First Use in Commerce](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.02.md)
- [TMEP § 903.03 Relation Between the Two Dates of Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.03.md)
- [TMEP § 903.04 Amending Dates of Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.04.md)
- [TMEP § 903.05 First Use by Predecessor or Related Company](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.05.md)
- [TMEP § 903.06 Indefinite Dates of Use](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.06.md)
- [TMEP § 903.06(a) Apparent Discrepancies Between Dates of Use and Date of Execution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.06(a).md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.