DECLARATIONS Sec. 2.20 Declarations in lieu of oaths. The applicant or member of the firm or an officer of the corporation or association making application for registration or filing a document in the Patent and Trademark Office relating to a mark may, in lieu of the oath, affidavit, verification, or sworn statement required from him, in those instances prescribed in the individual rules, file a declaration that all statements made of his own knowledge are true and that all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true, if, and only if, the declarant is, on the same paper, warned that willful false statements and the like are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C. 1001), and may jeopardize the validity of the application or document or any registration resulting therefrom. [31 FR 5261, Apr. 1, 1966] APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION AUTHORITY: Sections 2.21 to 2.47 also issued under §1, 60 Stat. 427; 15 U.S.C. 1051. Sec. 2.21 Requirements for receiving a filing date. (a) Materials submitted as an application for registration of a mark will not be accorded a filing date as an application until all of the following elements are received: (1) Name of the applicant; (2) A name and address to which communications can be directed; (3) A drawing of the mark sought to be registered substantially meeting all the requirements of §2.52; (4) An identification of goods or services; (5) A basis for filing: (i) A date of first use of the mark in commerce, and at least one specimen or facsimile of the mark as used, in an application under §1(a) of the Act, or (ii) A claim of a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce and a certification or certified copy of the foreign registration on which the application is based in an application under §44(e) of the Act, or (iii) A claim of a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce and a claim of the benefit of a prior foreign application in an application filed in accordance with §44(d) of the Act, or (iv) A claim of a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce in an application under §1(b) of the Act; (6) A verification or declaration in accordance with §2.33(b) signed by the applicant; (7) The required filing fee for at least one class of goods or services. Compliance with one or more of the rules relating to the elements specified above may be required before the application is further processed. (b) The filing date of the application is the date on which all of the elements set forth in paragraph (a) of this section are received in the Patent and Trademark Office. (c) If the papers and fee submitted as an application do not satisfy all of the requirements specified in paragraph (a) of this section, the papers will not be considered to constitute an application and will not be given a filing date. The Patent and Trademark Office will return the papers and any fee submitted therewith to the person who submitted the papers. The Office will notify the person to whom the papers are returned of the defect or defects which prevented their being considered to be an application. [47 FR 38695, Sept. 2, 1982, as amended at 51 FR 29921, Aug. 21 1986; 54 FR 37588, Sept. 11, 1989] Sec. 2.23 Serial number. Applications will be given a serial number as received, and the applicant will be informed of the serial number and the filing date of the application. [37 FR 931, Jan. 21, 1972] Sec. 2.24 Designation of representative by foreign applicant. If an applicant is not domiciled in the United States, the applicant must designate by a written document filed in the Patent and Trademark Office the name and address of some person resident in the United States on whom may be served notices or process in proceedings affecting the mark. If this document does not accompany or form part of the application, it will be required and registration refused unless it is supplied. Official communications of the Patent and Trademark Office will be addressed to the domestic representative unless the application is being prosecuted by an attorney at law or other qualified person duly authorized, in which event Official communications will be sent to the attorney at law or other qualified person duly authorized. The mere designation of a domestic representative does not authorize the person designated to prosecute the application unless qualified under paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of §10.14 of this subchapter and authorized under §2.17(b). [30 FR 13193, Oct. 16, 1965, as amended at 54 FR 37588 Sept. 11, 1989] Sec. 2.25 Papers not returnable. After an application is filed the papers will not be returned for any purpose whatever; but the Office will furnish copies to the applicant upon request and payment of the fee. Sec. 2.26 Use of old drawing in new application. In an application filed in place of an abandoned or rejected application, or in an application for reregistration (§2.158), a new complete application is required, but the old drawing, if suitable, may be used. The application must be accompanied by a request for the transfer of the drawing, and by a permanent photographic copy, or an order for such copy, of the drawing to be placed in the original file. A drawing so transferred, or to be transferred, cannot be amended. Sec. 2.27 Pending trademark application index; access to applications. (a) An index of pending applications including the name and address of the applicant, a reproduction or description of the mark, the goods or services with which the mark is used, the class number, the dates of use, and the serial number and filing date of the application will be available for public inspection as soon as practicable after filing. (b) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, access to the file of a particular pending application will be permitted prior to publication under $2.80 upon written request. (c) Decisions of the Commissioner and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in applications and proceedings relating thereto are published or available for inspection or publication. (d) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, after a mark has been registered, or published for opposition, the file of the application and all proceedings relating thereto are available for public inspection and copies of the papers may be furnished upon paying the fee therefor. (e) Anything ordered to be filed under seal pursuant to a protective order issued or made by any court or by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in any proceeding involving an application or registration shall be kept confidential and shall not be made available for public inspection or copying unless otherwise ordered by the court or the Board, or unless the party protected by the order voluntarily discloses the matter subject thereto. When possible, only confidential portions of filings with the Board shall be filed under seal. [36 FR 25406, Dec. 31, 1971, as amended at 48 FR 23134, May 23, 1983; 48 FR 27225, June 14, 1983] THE WRITTEN APPLICATION Sec. 2.31 Application must be in English. The application must be in the English language and plainly written on but one side of the paper. It is preferable that the application be on lettersize (i.e., 8 1/2 inches, 21.6 cm., by 11 inches, 27.9 cm.) paper, typewritten double spaced, with at least a one and one-half inch (3.8 cm.) margin on the left-hand side and top of the page. [39 FR 12247, Apr. 4, 1974, as amended at 54 FR 37588, Sept. 11, 1989] Sec. 2.32 Application to be signed and sworn to or include a declaration by applicant. (a) The application must be made to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and must be signed and verified (sworn to) or include a declaration in |