# TMEP § 903.02: Date of First Use in Commerce

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/TMEP_S903.02

## Section

- **Citation:** TMEP § 903.02
- **Heading:** Date of First 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 § 903.02

## Text

In a trademark or service mark application, the date of
first use in commerce is the date when the goods were first sold or transported, or
the services were first rendered, under the mark in a type of commerce that may be
lawfully regulated by the U.S. Congress, if such use is bona fide and in the
ordinary course of trade.
See
15 U.S.C. §1127
.  See
TMEP §901.01
for definitions of
“commerce” and “use in commerce,” and
§901.03
regarding types of commerce that may be lawfully
regulated by the U.S. Congress.
In a §1(a) application, the applicant may not specify a
date of use that is later than the filing date of the application.  If an applicant
who filed under §1(a) did not use the mark in commerce on or before the application
filing date, the applicant may amend the basis to §1(b).
See
37
C.F.R. §2.35(b)(1)
. See
TMEP
§806.03
regarding amendments to the basis.
Neither a date of first use nor a date of first use in
commerce is required to receive a filing date in an application based on use in
commerce under §1(a) of the Act.  If the application does not include a date of
first use and/or a date of first use in commerce, the examining attorney must
require that the applicant specify the date of first use and/or date of first use in
commerce.
See
37
C.F.R. §2.34(a)(1)(ii)-(iii).
The dates must be supported by
an affidavit or declaration under
37 C.F.R.
§2.20
.
See
37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(ii)-(iii)
,
2.71(c)
.
An applicant may not file an application on the basis of
use of a mark in commerce if such use has been discontinued.
See
TMEP
§1303.01(a)(i)(B)
regarding dates of use for collective
trademarks or collective service marks,
§1304.02(a)(i)(B)
regarding dates of use for collective
membership marks, and
§1306.02(a)(i)(A)
regarding dates of use for certification marks.

## 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_S903.02. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.