# TMEP § 901.04: Inquiry Regarding Use in Commerce

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S901.04

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 901.04
- **Heading:** Inquiry Regarding Use in Commerce
- **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 § 901.04

## Text

It is the responsibility of the applicant and the
applicant’s attorney to determine whether an assertion of use in commerce is
supported by the relevant facts.  The validity of an applicant’s assertion of use in
commerce generally does not arise in ex parte examination.  The examining attorney
will normally accept the applicant’s verified claim of use in commerce without
investigation into whether the use referred to constitutes “use in commerce.”
An applicant is not required to specify the type of
commerce in which the mark is used.
See
TMEP §901.03
.
However, if the applicant specifically states that the mark is in use in commerce
that cannot be regulated by the U.S. Congress, the applicant has not met the
statutory requirement for a verified statement that the mark is in use in commerce,
and a specification of the date of first use in commerce, as defined in §45 of the
Trademark Act.  Accordingly, the examining attorney must advise the applicant that
it appears that the mark is not in use in a type of commerce that can be regulated
by the U.S. Congress and must require that the applicant either submit a verified
statement that “the mark is in use in commerce that can be regulated by the U.S.
Congress,” or amend the basis of the application to a bona fide intention to use the
mark in commerce under §1(b) of the Act, if permitted by
37 C.F.R.
§2.35
.  See
TMEP §806.03(c)
regarding
amendment of the basis from §1(a) to §1(b).
If the application record contains evidence or
information indicating that the mark may not be in use in commerce that “may
lawfully be regulated by Congress,” the examining attorney must ask the applicant
whether there is use in commerce that may lawfully be regulated by the U.S. Congress
and require a satisfactory explanation or showing of such use.  The examining
attorney may also require additional information or evidence concerning the use of
the mark to permit full consideration of the issue.
37 C.F.R.
§2.61(b)
;
TMEP §814.
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## 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_S901.04. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.