201.02   Constructive Use Priority

Under 15 U.S.C. §§1057(c) and 1141f(b), filing any application for registration on the Principal Register, including an intent-to-use application, constitutes constructive use of the mark, provided the application matures into a registration. See Cent. Garden & Pet Co. v. Doskocil Mfg. Co., 108 USPQ2d 1134 (TTAB 2013).  Upon registration, filing affords the applicant nationwide priority over others, except:  (1) parties who used the mark before the applicant’s filing date; (2) parties who filed in the USPTO before the applicant; or (3) parties who are entitled to an earlier priority filing date based on the filing of a foreign application under 15 U.S.C. §1126(d) or §1141g (see TMEP §206.02).  SeeZirco Corp. v. Am. Tel. and Tel. Co., 21 USPQ2d 1542 (TTAB 1991); Aktieselskabet AF 21. November 2001 v. Fame Jeans Inc., 525 F.3d 8, 86 USPQ2d 1527 (D.C. Cir. 2008).