Action of Director in interference, opposition, and proceedings for concurrent use registration or for cancellation

15 U.S.C. § 1068

• Title: 15 — Commerce and Trade
• Chapter: SUBCHAPTER I—THE PRINCIPAL REGISTER

Text

In such proceedings the Director may refuse to register the opposed mark, may cancel the registration, in whole or in part, may modify the application or registration by limiting the goods or services specified therein, may otherwise restrict or rectify with respect to the register the registration of a registered mark, may refuse to register any or all of several interfering marks, or may register the mark or marks for the person or persons entitled thereto, as the rights of the parties under this chapter may be established in the proceedings. The authority of the Director under this section includes the authority to reconsider, and modify or set aside, a decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board: Provided, That in the case of the registration of any mark based on concurrent use, the Director shall determine and fix the conditions and limitations provided for in subsection (d) of section 1052 of this title. However, no final judgment shall be entered in favor of an applicant under section 1051(b) of this title before the mark is registered, if such applicant cannot prevail without establishing constructive use pursuant to section 1057(c) of this title.

History

(July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, §18, 60 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 100–667, title I, §118, Nov. 16, 1988, 102 Stat. 3941; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4732(b)(1)(B)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, §228(a)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2209.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions
Act Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, §§7, 13, 33 Stat. 726, 728.

Amendments
2020—Pub. L. 116–260 inserted ". The authority of the Director under this section includes the authority to reconsider, and modify or set aside, a decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board" after "established in the proceedings".
1999—Pub. L. 106–113 substituted "Director" for "Commissioner" in two places.
1988—Pub. L. 100–667 substituted "the registration, in whole or in part, may modify the application or registration by limiting the goods or services specified therein, may otherwise restrict or rectify with respect to the register" for "or restrict", and "may refuse" for "or may refuse", and inserted provisions that no final judgment be entered before mark is registered if applicant cannot prevail without establishing constructive use.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.

Repeal and Effect on Existing Rights
Repeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chapter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under section 1051 of this title.

Construction of 2020 Amendment
Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, §228(b), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2210, provided that:
"(1) Authority before date of enactment.—The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section and sections 1070 and 1092 of this title] shall not be construed to mean that the Director lacked the authority to reconsider, and modify or set aside, a decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board before the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020].
"(2) Authority with respect to particular decisions.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall not be construed to require the Director to reconsider, modify, or set aside any particular decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board."
["Director" as used in section 228(b) of Pub. L. 116–260, set out above, means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, see section 222 of Pub. L. 116–260, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.]

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.