(a) Written document required. An applicant may expressly abandon an application by filing a written request for abandonment or withdrawal of the application, signed by the applicant, someone with legal authority to bind the applicant (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner of a partnership), or a practitioner qualified to practice under Sec. 11.14 of this chapter, in accordance with the requirements of Sec. 2.193(e)(2). A request for abandonment or withdrawal may not subsequently be withdrawn.
(b) Rights in the mark not affected. Except as provided in Sec. 2.135, the fact that an application has been expressly abandoned shall not affect any rights that the applicant may have in the mark set forth in the abandoned application in any proceeding before the Office. [80 FR 2311, Jan. 16, 2015]