Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§1064 Cancellation of Registration

Title 15 › CHAPTER 22 — TRADEMARKS › SUBCHAPTER I — THE PRINCIPAL REGISTER › § 1064

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone who thinks they will be harmed by a registered trademark can pay the fee and ask to cancel that registration. That includes claims that the mark will be weakened by blurring or tarnishing. You must file within five years after the mark’s federal registration, or within five years after publication for marks under the Acts of March 3, 1881 or February 20, 1905. You can file at any time if the mark has become the common name for the goods or services, is functional, has been abandoned, was obtained by fraud or improper means, or is being used (or allowed to be used) to trick people about who made the goods. If only some listed goods have become generic, cancellation can target just those goods. Marks under the old Acts that were never published can be canceled at any time. Certification marks can be canceled anytime if the owner does not control their use, makes or sells the certified goods, lets the mark be used for non-certifying purposes, or unfairly refuses to certify qualified users; the owner may still advertise the certification program so long as they do not produce the certified goods. A mark can also be canceled any time after three years if it was never used in commerce for some or all listed goods, unless special circumstances excuse the nonuse. The Federal Trade Commission may seek cancellation on the genericness or certification grounds without paying the fee.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1064

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

A petition to cancel a registration of a mark, stating the grounds relied upon, may, upon payment of the prescribed fee, be filed as follows by any person who believes that he is or will be damaged, including as a result of a likelihood of dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment under section 1125(c) of this title, by the registration of a mark on the principal register established by this chapter, or under the Act of March 3, 1881, or the Act of February 20, 1905:
(1)Within five years from the date of the registration of the mark under this chapter.
(2)Within five years from the date of publication under section 1062(c) of this title of a mark registered under the Act of March 3, 1881, or the Act of February 20, 1905.
(3)At any time if the registered mark becomes the generic name for the goods or services, or a portion thereof, for which it is registered, or is functional, or has been abandoned, or its registration was obtained fraudulently or contrary to the provisions of section 1054 of this title or of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 1052 of this title for a registration under this chapter, or contrary to similar prohibitory provisions of such prior Acts for a registration under such Acts, or if the registered mark is being used by, or with the permission of, the registrant so as to misrepresent the source of the goods or services on or in connection with which the mark is used. If the registered mark becomes the generic name for less than all of the goods or services for which it is registered, a petition to cancel the registration for only those goods or services may be filed. A registered mark shall not be deemed to be the generic name of goods or services solely because such mark is also used as a name of or to identify a unique product or service. The primary significance of the registered mark to the relevant public rather than purchaser motivation shall be the test for determining whether the registered mark has become the generic name of goods or services on or in connection with which it has been used.
(4)At any time if the mark is registered under the Act of March 3, 1881, or the Act of February 20, 1905, and has not been published under the provisions of subsection (c) of section 1062 of this title.
(5)At any time in the case of a certification mark on the ground that the registrant (A) does not control, or is not able legitimately to exercise control over, the use of such mark, or (B) engages in the production or marketing of any goods or services to which the certification mark is applied, or (C) permits the use of the certification mark for purposes other than to certify, or (D) discriminately refuses to certify or to continue to certify the goods or services of any person who maintains the standards or conditions which such mark certifies.
(6)At any time after the 3-year period following the date of registration, if the registered mark has never been used in commerce on or in connection with some or all of the goods or services recited in the registration:
Provided, That the Federal Trade Commission may apply to cancel on the grounds specified in paragraphs (3) and (5) of this section any mark registered on the principal register established by this chapter, and the prescribed fee shall not be required. Nothing in paragraph (5) shall be deemed to prohibit the registrant from using its certification mark in advertising or promoting recognition of the certification program or of the goods or services meeting the certification standards of the registrant. Such uses of the certification mark shall not be grounds for cancellation under paragraph (5), so long as the registrant does not itself produce, manufacture, or sell any of the certified goods or services to which its identical certification mark is applied. Nothing in paragraph (6) shall be construed to limit the timing applicable to any other ground for cancellation. A registration under section 1126(e) or 1141f of this title shall not be cancelled pursuant to paragraph (6) if the registrant demonstrates that any nonuse is due to special circumstances that excuse such nonuse.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Acts
March 3, 1881 and
February 20, 1905, referred to in opening par. and pars. (2) and (4), are acts Mar. 3, 1881, ch. 138, 21 Stat. 502 and Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, 33 Stat. 724, which were repealed insofar as inconsistent with this chapter by act
July 5, 1946, ch. 540, § 46(a), 60 Stat. 444. Act Feb. 20, 1905, was classified to sections 81 to 109 of this title.

Prior Provisions

Act Feb. 20, 1905, ch. 592, § 13, 33 Stat. 728.

Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–260, § 225(b)(3), in concluding proviso, inserted “Nothing in paragraph (6) shall be construed to limit the timing applicable to any other ground for cancellation. A registration under section 1126(e) or 1141f of this title shall not be cancelled pursuant to paragraph (6) if the registrant demonstrates that any nonuse is due to special circumstances that excuse such nonuse.” after “identical certification mark is applied.” Par. (6). Pub. L. 116–260, § 225(b)(1), (2), added par. (6). 2006—Pub. L. 109–312 substituted “, including as a result of a likelihood of dilution by blurring or dilution by tarnishment under section 1125(c) of this title,” for “, including as a result of dilution under section 1125(c) of this title,” in introductory provisions. 1999—Pub. L. 106–43 inserted “, including as a result of dilution under section 1125(c) of this title,” after “damaged” in introductory provisions. 1998—Pub. L. 105–330, § 301, inserted at end “Nothing in paragraph (5) shall be deemed to prohibit the registrant from using its certification mark in advertising or promoting recognition of the certification program or of the goods or services meeting the certification standards of the registrant. Such uses of the certification mark shall not be grounds for cancellation under paragraph (5), so long as the registrant does not itself produce, manufacture, or sell any of the certified goods or services to which its identical certification mark is applied.” Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–330, § 201(a)(4), inserted “or is functional,” before “or has been abandoned”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(1), (7), in introductory provisions, inserted “as follows” and substituted “1905:” for “1905—”, and in concluding proviso substituted “paragraphs (3) and (5)” for “subsections (c) and (e)”. Par. (1). Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(2), substituted “(1) Within” for “(a) within” and “chapter.” for “chapter; or”. Par. (2). Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(3), substituted “(2) Within” for “(b) within”, and “1905.” for “1905; or”. Par. (3). Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(4), substituted “(3)” for “(c)” and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “at any time if the registered mark becomes the common descriptive name of an article or substance, or has been abandoned, or its registration was obtained fraudulently or contrary to the provisions of section 1054 of this title or of subsections (a), (b), or (c) of section 1052 of this title for a registration hereunder, or contrary to similar prohibitory provisions of said prior Acts for a registration thereunder, or if the registered mark is being used by, or with the permission of, the registrant so as to misrepresent the source of the goods or services in connection with which the mark is used. A registered mark shall not be deemed to be the common descriptive name of goods or services solely because such mark is also used as a name of or to identify a unique product or service. The primary significance of the registered mark to the relevant public rather than purchaser motivation shall be the test for determining whether the registered mark has become the common descriptive name of goods or services in connection with which it has been used; or”. Par. (4). Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(5), substituted “(4) At” for “(d) at”, and “title.” for “title; or”. Par. (5). Pub. L. 100–667, § 115(6), substituted “(5) At” for “(e) at” and redesignated former pars. (1) to (4) as subpars. (A) to (D), respectively. 1984—Par. (c). Pub. L. 98–620 inserted provision that a registered mark shall not be deemed to be the common descriptive name of goods or services solely because such mark is also used as a name of or to identify a unique product or service, and that the primary significance of the registered mark to the relevant public rather than purchaser motivation shall be the test for determining whether the registered mark has become the common descriptive name of goods or services in connection with which it has been used. 1982—Pub. L. 97–247 struck out “verified” before “petition to cancel” in provision preceding par. (a). 1962—Pub. L. 87–772 inserted provisions which require a verified petition to cancel a registration, redesignated par. (d) as (e), added par. (d) which is composed of provisions formerly part of par. (c), and in said par. (c), substituted “registrant” for “assignee”, and struck out “on which the patent has expired” before “or has been abandoned”, and “has been assigned and” before “is being used by”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2020 Amendment Pub. L. 116–260, div. Q, title II, § 225(g), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2208, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting section 1066a and 1066b of this title and amending this section and section 1065, 1070, 1071, and 1094 of this title] shall take effect upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2020], and shall apply to any mark registered before, on, or after that

Effective Date

.”

Effective Date

of 1999 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–43 effective Aug. 5, 1999, and applicable only to any application for registration filed on or after Jan. 16, 1996, see section 2(e) of Pub. L. 106–43, set out as a note under section 1052 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1998 AmendmentAmendment by section 201(a)(4) of Pub. L. 105–330 effective Oct. 30, 1998, and applicable only to any civil action filed or proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office commenced on or after such date relating to the registration of a mark, see section 201(b) of Pub. L. 105–330, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.

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.

Effective Date

of 1982 AmendmentAmendment 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. Finality of Judgments Prior to November 8, 1984 Pub. L. 98–620, title I, § 104, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3336, provided that: “Nothing in this title [amending this section and section 1127 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1051 of this title] shall be construed to provide a basis for reopening of any final judgment entered prior to the date of enactment of this title [Nov. 8, 1984].” 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. Restriction on Use of Funds To Cancel Registration of TrademarksFor provisions restricting the use of funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out section 41 et seq. of this title for fiscal year 1980, 1981, or 1982, for the purpose of taking any action under this section with respect to the cancellation of the registration of any mark on the ground that such mark has become the common descriptive name of an article or substance, see section 18 of Pub. L. 96–252, set out as a note under section 57c of this title.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

of Federal Trade Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 8 of 1950, § 1, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1264, set out under section 41 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1064

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110