803.06 Applicant May Not Be Changed
While an application can be amended to correct an inadvertent error in the manner in which an applicant’s name is set forth, an application cannot be amended to substitute another entity as the applicant. 37 C.F.R §2.71(d); TMEP §803.06. See TMEP §1201.02(c) for examples of correctable and non-correctable errors in identifying the applicant.
If the application was filed in the name of a party who had no basis for such party's assertion of ownership of the mark (or a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce) as of the filing date, the application is void, and registration must be refused. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(d). Lyons v. Am. Coll. of Veterinary Sports Med. & Rehab., 859 F.3d 1023, 1027, 123 USPQ2d 1024, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 2017); Hole in 1 Drinks, Inc. v. Lajtay, 2020 USPQ2d 10020, at *9-10 (TTAB 2020); Norris v. PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, 2019 USPQ2d 370880, at *4-5 (TTAB 2019); Conolty v. Conolty O'Connor NYC LLC, 111 USPQ2d 1302, 1309 (TTAB 2014); TMEP §1201.02(b). The USPTO will not refund the application filing fee in such a case.
A void application filed in the name of a wrong party cannot be cured by amendment or assignment. See 37 C.F.R. §2.71(d); TMEP §1201.02(b). The true owner may file a new application (with a new filing fee) in its name or, if the applicant who is refused later becomes the owner of the mark, such party may file a new application (with a new filing fee) at that time.
See TMEP §803.01 regarding minor applicants and Chapter 500 and §1201.02(e) regarding the transfer of ownership from the true owner to another party after the filing date.