Montana Title 30. Trade and Commerce § 30-13-315. Assignment--change of name--other instruments

(1) Any mark and its registration under this part may be assigned in conjunction with the good will of the business in which the mark is used or with that part of the good will of the business connected with the use of and symbolized by the mark. An assignment must be by written, duly executed instruments and may be recorded with the secretary of state upon the payment of the recording fee payable to the secretary of state. Upon recording the assignment, the secretary of state shall issue a new certificate in the name of the assignee for the remainder of the term of the current registration. An assignment of any registration under this part is void as against any subsequent purchaser for valuable consideration without notice unless it is recorded with the secretary of state within 3 months after the date of the assignment or prior to the subsequent purchase.

(2) Any applicant or registrant effecting a change of the name of the person to whom the mark was issued or for whom an application was filed may record a certificate of change of name of the applicant or registrant with the secretary of state upon the payment of the recording fee. The secretary of state may issue in the name of the assignee a certificate of registration of an assigned application. The secretary of state may issue, in the name of the assignee, a new certificate of registration for the remainder of the term of the registration or last renewal of the registration.

(3) Other instruments that relate to a mark registered or an application pending pursuant to this part, such as licenses, security interests, or mortgages, may be recorded at the discretion of the secretary of state if the instrument is in writing and is duly executed.

(4) An acknowledgment is prima facie evidence of the execution of an assignment or other instrument, and when recorded by the secretary of state, the record is prima facie evidence of execution.

(5) A photocopy of any instrument referred to in subsections (1) through (3) must be accepted for recording if it is certified by any of the parties to the instrument or their successors to be a true and correct copy of the original.