(1) The Department of State may require the applicant for registration to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark otherwise registrable. An applicant may voluntarily disclaim a component of a mark sought to be registered.
(2) No disclaimer shall prejudice or affect the applicant’s or registrant’s rights then existing or thereafter arising in the disclaimed matter, or her or his right of registration on another application if the disclaimed matter be or shall have become distinctive of her or his goods or services.
