503.03(a)    Formal Requirements for Recording Documents

Applications and Registrations Based on §1 and §44 of the Trademark Act.  All documents submitted for recording must be accompanied by a cover sheet that meets the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §3.31.  See 37 C.F.R. §3.28; TMEP §503.03(e). Requests to record ownership documents may be made online or via paper. 37 C.F.R. §3.25(c). See TMEP §301.01 regarding the mandatory electronic filing of trademark documents and §301.02(g) regarding the exception to mandatory electronic filing of trademark documents for assignments and other ownership transfer documents.

To expedite recordation, new owners should file requests for recordation electronically using the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS) at https://etas.uspto.gov.  Documents filed electronically are recorded faster than paper documents.  Using ETAS, a party can create and submit a Trademark Assignment Recordation Form Cover Sheet by completing an online form, and attach the supporting legal documentation as an image in tagged image file format (TIFF) for submission. See 37 C.F.R. §3.25(a) -(c)(1).

See TMEP §503.04 for the mailing address for paper submissions for recordation.

Section 66(a) Applications and Registered Extensions of Protection.  In a §66(a) application or registered extension of protection, the new owner must record the change of ownership, including a change of owner name, with the IB, who will record the change in the International Register and notify the USPTO accordingly.   See TMEP §501.07.  The IB does not require supporting documents.  See TMEP §1906.01 and §1906.01(a) for information about recording changes of ownership of international registrations with the IB.