To: | MERIAL (btaylor@stites.com) |
Subject: | TRADEMARK REGISTRATION NO. 1311961 - ZIMECTERIN - T03999US0 |
Sent: | 01/05/15 11:31:03 PM |
Sent As: | PRG@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT REGISTRANT’S TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
U.S. REGISTRATION NO. 1311961
REGISTRANT: MERIAL
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CORRESPONDENT’S ADDRESS: |
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MARK: ZIMECTERIN
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO. T03999US0
CORRESPONDENT’S EMAIL ADDRESS: |
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CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER:
http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/reg_maintain.jsp
ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 1/5/2015
U.S. Registration Number 1311961
Your response to the outstanding Office action regarding the Section 8 Affidavit was timely received on December 30, 2014. After consideration of the response and the facts of record, the refusal to accept the Section 8 Affidavit is maintained for the reason(s) set forth below.
OWNERSHIP – STATEMENT NOT PROPERLY VERIFIED
The Section 8 Affidavit cannot be accepted because the owner submitted a statement explaining the valid transfer of legal title. However, the statement of facts explaining the transfer of title, must be verified with an affidavit or a signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20. See 37 C.F.R. §3.73; TMEP §§502 et seq.
DECLARATION UNDER 37 C.F.R. §2.20
The following declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 can be used to verify the Response, if properly signed and dated:
The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statement may jeopardize the validity of this document, declares that s/he is properly authorized to execute this document on behalf of the owner, and all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true and that all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
__________________________
Signature of Authorized Person
__________________________
Type or Print Name
__________________________
Date
The following persons are properly authorized to sign a Section 8 Affidavit on behalf of the owner:
(1) A person with legal authority to bind the owner (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner);
(2) A person with firsthand knowledge of the facts and actual or implied authority to act on behalf of the owner; or
(3) An authorized attorney who has an actual written or verbal power of attorney or an implied power of attorney from the owner.
37 C.F.R. §§2.161(b), 2.193(e)(1); TMEP §1604.08(a).
PERSONS WHO CAN SIGN RESPONSES
Responses to Office actions must be properly signed. 37 C.F.R. §§2.163(b), 2.193(e)(2); TMEP §611.03(b). When an owner is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(i); TMEP §611.03(b). The only attorneys who may sign responses and otherwise practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are (1) attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other federal territories and possessions of the United States; and (2) Canadian agents/attorneys who represent owners located in Canada and (a) are registered with the USPTO and in good standing as patent agents or (b) have been granted reciprocal recognition by the USPTO. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 11.1, 11.5(b)(2), 11.14(a), (c); TMEP §602. Attorneys who fail to meet these requirements, as well as non-attorneys, are generally not permitted to represent owners in trademark matters before the USPTO; and thus, they may not sign responses. See 5 U.S.C. §500(b), (d); 37 C.F.R. §11.14(a)-(c), (e); TMEP §§602, 602.02, 608.01.
Where an owner is represented by an attorney, and then later retains a different attorney from a different firm, the newly retained attorney may not sign responses until the owner files a new power and/or revocation of attorney. See 37 C.F.R. §2.18(a)(7); TMEP §604.03.
Where an owner is not represented by an attorney, the response must be signed by the individual owner or someone with legal authority to bind a juristic owner (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner). See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii); TMEP §§611.03(b), 611.06 et seq. In the case of joint owners, all must sign. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii); TMEP §611.06(a).
RESPONSE TIME DEADLINE: 6 MONTHS
A complete response must be received within 6 months from the issuance date of this Office action. The owner must respond to all inquiries set forth in this Office action to avoid cancellation of the registration. 37 C.F.R. §2.163(b)-(c); TMEP §1604.16.
/Territa E. Gray/
Trademark Specialist
Post Registration Division
571.272.9527 Office
571.273.9527 Fax
Territa.Gray@uspto.gov
TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Use the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Post-Registration Office action form number 11 at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/reg_maintain.jsp. Please wait 48-72 hours from the issue/mailing date before using TEAS, to allow for necessary system updates of the registration. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.
WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE: It must be personally signed by (1) the individual owner; (2) someone with legal authority to bind the owner (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner); or (3) an authorized attorney, if one is appointed to represent the owner. If the owner is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response.
TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS: Use the TEAS form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.
FOR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED SPECIALIST.