806.03(j)(i) Amending the Basis of a §1(b) Application After Publication But Before Issuance of Notice of Allowance
An applicant who wants to add a §44(e) basis to a §1(b) application after publication must petition the Director to allow the examining attorney to consider the amendment. 37 C.F.R. §2.35(b)(2); TMEP §806.03(j). The petition should indicate whether applicant wants to maintain the §1(b) basis. The applicant has three options:
- (1) Applicant may delete the §1(b) basis and substitute §44(e). If the petition is granted, the Office of Petitions will delete the §1(b) basis from TRAM, and enter the foreign registration information. The examining attorney will be instructed to examine the §44(e) basis, in accordance with standard examination procedures. If the examining attorney accepts the §44(e) basis, the examining attorney will approve the mark for republication. If registration of the mark is not successfully opposed, a registration will issue. If the examining attorney does not accept the §44(e) basis, the examining attorney will issue an Office action notifying the applicant of the reason(s). The applicant cannot later re-assert the §1(b) basis;
- (2) Applicant may add §44(e) and retain the §1(b) basis. If the Director grants the petition and the examining attorney accepts the §44(e) basis, the application will be republished with a dual basis and, if registration of the mark is not opposed, a notice of allowance will issue. If the examining attorney does not accept the §44(e) basis, the examining attorney will issue an Office action notifying the applicant of the reason(s). The applicant may elect to withdraw the amendment and proceed under §1(b) as the sole basis; or
- (3) Applicant may add §44(e) and request that the §1(b) basis be deleted if the examining attorney accepts the §44(e) basis. If the Director grants the petition and the examining attorney accepts the §44(e) basis, the examining attorney will: (a) ensure that the §1(b) basis is deleted from TRAM; and (b) approve the mark for republication. If the mark is not successfully opposed, a registration will issue. If the examining attorney does not accept the §44(e) basis, the examining attorney will issue an Office action notifying the applicant of the reason(s). The applicant may elect to withdraw the amendment and proceed under §1(b) as the sole basis.