308.05 Fees for Consolidated and Combined Complaints
When appropriate, a party may oppose, in a single (i.e., "consolidated") notice of opposition, different applications owned by the same defendant. However, the required fee must be submitted for each party joined as opposer for each class in which registration is opposed in each application against which the opposition is filed. [ Note 1.] See TBMP § 305 and TBMP §308.05.
Similarly, when appropriate, a party may seek to cancel, in a single (i.e., "consolidated") petition for cancellation, different registrations owned by the same defendant. Again, the required fee must be submitted for each party joined as petitioner, for each class sought to be cancelled, in each registration against which the petition for cancellation is filed. [ Note 2.] See TBMP § 305 and TBMP §308.05.
A party may not file a single pleading combining a notice of opposition to one or more applications, and a petition to cancel one or more registrations, even when each subject application and registration is owned by the same defendant. See TBMP § 305.02. Filing by ESTTA is required, and no ESTTA form exists for such a combined complaint. [ Note 3.] However, to achieve a comparable result a filer may separately electronically file a notice of opposition and a petition for cancellation and simultaneously request consolidation. [ Note 4.] It is recommended to file the request for consolidation in a separate submission in ESTTA.
See TBMP § 305 for more information on consolidated and combined complaints and filing in ESTTA. For information concerning motions to consolidate proceedings, see TBMP § 511.
NOTES:
1. See 37 C.F.R. § 2.104(b).
2. See 37 C.F.R. § 2.112(b).
3. MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD RULES OF PRACTICE, 81 Fed. Reg. 69950, 69953 (October 7, 2016). ("[No] exception to the requirement to file by ESTTA will be made for a combined filing, and prior case law allowing for this type of combined notice of opposition and petition for cancellation is superseded by the mandatory online filing requirement.").
4. MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD RULES OF PRACTICE, 81 Fed. Reg. 69950, 69953 (October 7, 2016).