Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§1053 Service marks registrable
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - TRADEMARKS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - THE PRINCIPAL REGISTER › § 1053
Summary
Service marks can be registered and get the same protection as trademarks, as long as the trademark rules that apply are followed. Applications and procedures for service marks must match trademark rules as closely as possible.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §1053
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Subject to the provisions relating to the registration of trademarks, so far as they are applicable, service marks shall be registrable, in the same manner and with the same effect as are trademarks, and when registered they shall be entitled to the protection provided in this chapter in the case of trademarks. Applications and procedure under this section shall conform as nearly as practicable to those prescribed for the registration of trademarks.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1999—Pub. L. 106–43 substituted “trademarks” for “trade-marks” wherever appearing. 1988—Pub. L. 100–667 struck out “used in commerce” after “applicable, service marks” and “, except when used so as to represent falsely that the owner thereof makes or sells the goods on which such mark is used. The Commissioner may establish a separate register for such service marks” after “case of trade-marks”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment 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. Repeal and Effect on Existing RightsRepeal 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. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1053
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73