15 U.S.C. § 1066 — Interference; declaration by Director

Page 1295 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 1066a EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective six months after Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(c) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as a note under section 294 of Title 35, Patents. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1975 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 93–596 effective Jan. 2, 1975, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–596, set out as a note under section 1111 of this title. REPEAL AND EFFECT ON EXISTING RIGHTS Repeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chap- ter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under sec- tion 1051 of this title. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appen- dix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employ- ees. § 1066. Interference; declaration by Director Upon petition showing extraordinary cir- cumstances, the Director may declare that an interference exists when application is made for the registration of a mark which so resembles a mark previously registered by another, or for the registration of which another has previously made application, as to be likely when used on or in connection with the goods or services of the applicant to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive. No interference shall be declared be- tween an application and the registration of a mark the right to the use of which has become incontestable. (July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, § 16, 60 Stat. 434; Pub. L. 87–772, § 11, Oct. 9, 1962, 76 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 97–247, § 11, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 100–667, title I, § 117, Nov. 16, 1988, 102 Stat. 3941; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(1)(B)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS Act Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, § 7, 33 Stat. 726. AMENDMENTS 1999—Pub. L. 106–113 substituted ‘‘Director’’ for ‘‘Commissioner’’. 1988—Pub. L. 100–667 substituted ‘‘used on or in con- nection with the goods or services’’ for ‘‘applied to the goods or when used in connection with the services’’. 1982—Pub. L. 97–247 substituted ‘‘Upon petition show- ing extraordinary circumstances, the Commissioner may declare that an interference exists when applica- tion is made for the registration of a mark which so re- sembles a mark previously registered by another, or for the registration of which another has previously made application, as to be likely when applied to the goods or when used in connection with the services of the ap- plicant to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive’’ for ‘‘Whenever application is made for the registration of a mark which so resembles a mark previously reg- istered by another, or for the registration of which an- other has previously made application, as to be likely when applied to the goods or when used in connection with the services of the applicant to cause confusion or mistake or to deceive, the Commissioner may declare that an interference exists’’. 1962—Pub. L. 87–772 struck out ‘‘purchasers’’ after ‘‘or to deceive’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective six months after Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(c) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as a note under section 294 of Title 35, Patents. REPEAL AND EFFECT ON EXISTING RIGHTS Repeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chap- ter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under sec- tion 1051 of this title. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appen- dix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employ- ees. § 1066a. Ex parte expungement (a) Petition Notwithstanding sections 1057(b) and 1072 of this title, and subsections (a) and (b) of section 1115 of this title, any person may file a petition to expunge a registration of a mark on the basis that the mark has never been used in commerce on or in connection with some or all of the goods or services recited in the registration. (b) Contents of petition A petition filed under subsection (a), together with any supporting documents, shall— (1) identify the registration that is the sub- ject of the petition; (2) identify each good or service recited in the registration for which it is alleged that the mark has never been used in commerce; (3) include a verified statement that sets forth— (A) the elements of the reasonable inves- tigation the petitioner conducted to deter-