Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Chapter 22 — Trademarks
§ 1056. Disclaimer of unregistrable matter
Statutory text
Compulsory and voluntary disclaimers
The Director may require the applicant to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark otherwise registrable. An applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered.
Prejudice of rights
No disclaimer, including those made under subsection (e) of section 1057 of this title, shall prejudice or affect the applicant’s or registrant’s rights then existing or thereafter arising in the disclaimed matter, or his right of registration on another application if the disclaimed matter be or shall have become distinctive of his goods or services.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 79–540 · 60 Stat. 427
Enacted · 15 U.S.C. § 1056
July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, § 6, 60 Stat. 429
Source evidence
Code source credit
July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, § 6, 60 Stat. 429Pub. L. 87–772 § 3 · 76 Stat. 769
Changed · 15 U.S.C. § 1056
Pub. L. 87–772, among other changes, provided that an applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 87–772, among other changes, provided that an applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 3. Section 6 is amended by striking the entire section and Unregistrable matter, disclaimer. 15 USC 1056. inserting in lieu thereof the following: “Sec. 6. (a) The Commissioner may require the applicant to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark otherwise registrable. An applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered. “(b) No disclaimer, including those made under paragraph (d) of section 7 of this Act, shall prejudice or affect the applicant’s or registrant’s Post, p. 770. rights then existing or thereafter arising in the disclaimed matter, or his right of registration on another application if the disclaimed matter be or shall have become distinctive of his goods or services.”Trademark Law Revision Act of 1988
Pub. L. 100–667 title I § 108 · 102 Stat. 3935
Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 1056(b)
Pub. L. 100–667 substituted “subsection (e)” for “paragraph (d)”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–667 substituted “subsection (e)” for “paragraph (d)”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 108. DISCLAIMER OF UNREGISTRABLE MATTER. Section 6(b) (15 U.S.C. 1056(b)) is amended by striking out “paragraph (d)” and inserting in lieu thereof “subsection (e)”.District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2000
Pub. L. 106–113 div. B § 1000(a)(9)(tIV)(s4732)(b)(1)(B) · 113 Stat. 1501
Substituted · 15 U.S.C. § 1056(a)
Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”.Effective date note
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.
2 of 4 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 2 partial
Editorial Notes
Amendments1962–1999 · 3 rounds
1999
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”.
1988
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–667 substituted “subsection (e)” for “paragraph (d)”.
1962
Pub. L. 87–772, among other changes, provided that an applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after , 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 , see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.
Repeal and Effect on Existing Rights
Repeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chapter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under section 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. , 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Credits
1946–1999 · 4 acts
- 1946July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, § 6, 60 Stat. 429
- 1962Pub. L. 87–772, § 3, , 76 Stat. 769
- 1988Pub. L. 100–667, title I, § 108, , 102 Stat. 3938
- 1999Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(1)(B)], , 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583.
Show as published
(July 5, 1946, ch. 540, title I, § 6, 60 Stat. 429; Pub. L. 87–772, § 3, , 76 Stat. 769; Pub. L. 100–667, title I, § 108, , 102 Stat. 3938; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(b)(1)(B)], , 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–583.)