1604.12(c)    Substitute Specimens

If a specimen for any class is omitted or is deficient, the owner must file a substitute specimen, together with an affidavit or declaration that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods or services during the relevant period specified in §8 of the Act, 15 U.S.C. §1058, as follows:

  • (1) If the §8 affidavit or declaration was filed during the sixth year after the date of registration or publication under §12(c) of the Act, 15 U.S.C. §1062(c), the affidavit or declaration supporting use of the substitute specimen must state that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce before the expiration of the sixth year after the date of registration or publication under §12(c), if accurate; or
  • (2) If the §8 affidavit or declaration was filed within one year before the end of any ten-year period after the date of registration, the affidavit or declaration supporting use of the substitute specimen must state that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce within one year before the end of the ten-year period after the date of registration, if accurate; or
  • (3) If the §8 affidavit or declaration was filed during the grace period, the affidavit or declaration supporting use of the substitute specimen must state that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce before the expiration of the grace period, if accurate.

If the §8 affidavit or declaration was filed during the relevant period specified in §8(a) of the Act (i.e., during the sixth year after the date of registration or publication under §12(c) of the Trademark Act, or within one year before the end of any ten-year period after the date of registration), the substitute specimen may be filed before expiration of the relevant period for no fee, or after expiration of the relevant period with the deficiency surcharge required under §8(c) of the Act.  If the §8 affidavit or declaration was filed during the grace period, the substitute specimen may be filed before expiration of the grace period for no fee, or after expiration of the grace period with the deficiency surcharge.  See TMEP §1604.04 regarding the deadlines for filing §8 affidavits or declarations, and TMEP §§1604.17 et seq. for information about the procedures, deadlines, and surcharge for correcting deficiencies.

While a substitute specimen and supporting affidavit or declaration may be filed after the expiration of the period specified in §8 of the Act, the supporting affidavit or declaration must attest to use of the specimen within the time period specified in §8 of the Act.  Therefore, if the affidavit or declaration supporting the substitute specimen does not state that the specimen was in use in commerce prior to the end of the relevant period specified in §8 of the Act, the USPTO will not accept the affidavit or declaration, and the registration will be cancelled as to any class for which no proper specimen was submitted.

See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1) and TMEP §611.03(a) regarding the proper person to sign an affidavit or declaration.