Offc Action Outgoing

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, WE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OUR MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE. 

 

 

Serial Number  76/058241

 

This application was suspended pending the disposition of Serial No. 75/154448. The pending application has been abandoned and will not be cited against this application.  The Trademark INTEGRA 9000, Registration No. 2270879 was also initially cited against the application but is withdrawn.  The application is removed from suspension.  Please see the remaining final refusals below.

 

SECTION 2(d)

 

Registration was refused under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(d), because the mark for which registration is sought so resembles the marks shown in U.S. Registration Nos. 2177213 and 2182691 as to be likely, when used on the identified goods, to cause confusion, or to cause mistake, or to deceive.

 

The examining attorney has considered the applicant's arguments carefully but has found them unpersuasive.  For the reasons below, the refusal under Section 2(d) is maintained and made FINAL.

 

The applicant’s proposed mark is ENTEGRA for “computer workstations, computers, printed circuit boards, video display units, namely, computer monitors, computer keyboards, modems, mouse, graphical tablet interfaces, microphones for use with computers, printers for use with computers, interfaces for computers, intercommunication apparatus, computer input devices, readers being data processing equipment, computer software for use in connection with a medical diagnostic imaging workstation, read only memory compact discs, computer memories, optical data media, and magnetic data media; parts and fittings for all aforementioned goods.”  The registrant’s marks are INTEGRA and design for “computers, printed circuit boards, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, computer software for use in semiconductor design implementation, and specification and data sheets, data books, and reference manuals provided therewith;” and INTEGRA for “computers, printed circuit boards, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, computer software for use in semiconductor design implementation, and specification and data sheets, data books, and reference manuals provided therewith.” 

 

The applicant argues that the marks are different and the registrant’s is a double entendre, there are other similar marks on the register, the goods differ and travel through a different channel of trade and the consumers are sophisticated.

 

Contrary to the applicant’s assertions a likelihood of confusion exists.  The marks are confusingly similar.  The marks are essentially phonetic equivalents.  Similarity in sound alone is sufficient to find a likelihood of confusion.  Molenaar, Inc. v. Happy Toys Inc., 188 USPQ 469 (TTAB 1975); In re Cresco Mfg. Co., 138 USPQ 401 (TTAB 1963).  TMEP §1207.01(b)(iv).   Slight differences in the sound of similar marks will not avoid a likelihood of confusion.  In re Energy Telecommunications & Electrical Association, 222 USPQ 350 (TTAB 1983).  The applicant’s claim that the registrant uses its mark as a double entendre is irrelevant.  The commercial impression of both marks are the same.

 

The applicant references several Trademark registrations as evidence of other similar marks on the register. Third‑party registrations, by themselves, are entitled to little weight on the question of likelihood of confusion.  In re Hub Distributing, Inc., 218 USPQ 284 (TTAB 1983).  Third‑party registrations are not evidence of what happens in the marketplace or that the public is familiar with the use of those marks.  National Aeronautics and Space Administration v. Record Chemical Co., 185 USPQ 563 (TTAB 1975).  TMEP §1207.01(d)(iii).  Especially here where the register has similar marks, however, none of these other registrations are for the same or closely related goods or services as the applicant describes.

 

The applicant’s goods and registrant’s goods are both the same, “computer, printed circuit boards,” and the registrant’s goods are closely related to the applicant’s other goods.  See the attached copy of Trademark Registrations which show the same provides of the applicant’s other goods produce the registrant’s.  It is well settled that the issue of likelihood of confusion between marks must be determined on the basis of the goods or services as they are identified in the application and the registration. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce v. Wells Fargo Bank, 811 F.2d 1490, 1 USPQ2d 1813 (Fed. Cir. 1987); Paula Payne Products Co. v. Johnson Publishing Co., Inc., 473 F.2d 901, 177 USPQ 76 (C.C.P.A. 1973).  Since the identification of the registrant’s goods is very broad, it is presumed that the registration encompasses all goods of the type described, including those in the applicant’s more specific identification, that they move in all normal channels of trade and that they are available to all potential customers.  In re Elbaum, 211 USPQ 639, 640 (TTAB 1981).  TMEP §1207.01(a)(iii).  The registrant has placed no limitations on the use or marketing of its computers, printed circuit boards, semiconductor devices, integrated circuits all of which may be used in the medical field.

 

The fact that purchasers are sophisticated or knowledgeable in a particular field does not necessarily mean that they are sophisticated or knowledgeable in the field of trademarks or immune from source confusion.  See In re Decombe, 9 USPQ2d 1812 (TTAB 1988); In re Pellerin Milnor Corp., 221 USPQ 558 (TTAB 1983).  TMEP §1207.01(d)(vii).  While doctors may be knowledgeable regarding medical imaging these are not the goods or services at issue.

 

In the electronics field, the decisions have held that the sale of related merchandise under the same or similar marks would be likely to cause confusion in spite of the sophistication and technical background of the purchasers.  Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. v. National Steel Construction Co., 442 F.2d 1383, 170 USPQ 98 (C.C.P.A. 1971); Tac Technical Instrument Corp. v. Fischer & Porter Co., 433 F.2d 827, 167 USPQ 635 (C.C.P.A. 1970); Wincharger Corp. v. Rinco, Inc., 297 F.2d 261, 132 USPQ 289 (C.C.P.A. 1962); Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. v. Sanders Associates, Inc., 177 USPQ 720 (TTAB 1973); I‑T‑E Circuit Breaker Co. v. The Industrial Test Equipment Co., 135 USPQ 162 (TTAB 1962).

 

For all of the foregoing reasons the refusal under Section 2 (d) is maintained and made Final.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

The amended identification of goods is still unacceptable as indefinite.  The applicant continues to use broad terminology and indefinite wording.  The applicant must amend the identification to specify the common commercial name of the goods.  If there is no common commercial name, the applicant must further describe the product and its intended uses.  TMEP §1402.01.  The applicant may also wish to consult the Office’s Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual for additional suggestions.

 

The applicant may adopt the following identification of goods, if accurate:  computer workstations, computers, printed circuit boards, video display units, namely, computer monitors, computer keyboards, modems, mouse, graphical tablet interfaces, microphones for use with computers, printers for use with computers, interfaces for computers, intercommunication apparatus, namely, (the applicant must describe these goods by their common commercial name, e.g., computers), computer input devices, namely, (the applicant must describe these goods by their common commercial name, e.g., keyboards), readers being data processing equipment, computer software for use in connection with a medical diagnostic imaging workstation, pre-recorded read only memory compact discs featuring (the applicant must describe the subject matter on the disc), computer memories, blank optical data media and blank magnetic data media (if these goods are not blank then the applicant must indicate that they are pre-recorded and describe the subject matter); parts and fittings for all aforementioned goods, namely, (the applicant must describe these goods by their common commercial names).

 

For a detailed discussion of this Office’s authority and rationale for requiring a specific identification of goods or services in an application, see Skoler, Trademark Identification ‑ Much Ado About Something?, 76 Trademark Rep. 224 (1986).

 

 

 

Please note that the only appropriate responses to a final action are either (1) compliance with the outstanding requirements, if feasible, or (2) filing of an appeal to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.64(a).  If the applicant fails to respond within six months of the mailing date of this refusal, this Office will declare the application abandoned.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.65(a).

 

 

 

 

/LaVerne T. Thompson/

Trademark Attorney, Law Ofc. 116

(703) 306-7922

(703) 746-8116fax

 

 

 

How to respond to this Office Action:

 

To respond formally using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), visit http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html and follow the instructions.

 

To respond formally via E-mail, visit http://www.gov.uspto.report/web/trademarks/tmelecresp.htm and follow the instructions.

 

To respond formally via regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing Return Address listed above and include the serial number, law office and examining attorney’s name on the upper right corner of each page of your response.

 

To check the status of your application at any time, visit the Office’s Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) system at http://tarr.gov.uspto.report/

 

For general and other useful information about trademarks, you are encouraged to visit the Office’s web site at http://www.gov.uspto.report/main/trademarks.htm

 

FOR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING ATTORNEY.

 

COPIES OF TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

 

Mark
        SANDISK
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Semiconductor memory devices, namely, integrated circuits, electronic circuit cards and cartridges, and other semiconductor devices, namely, flash memory cards, cartridges, adapters, converters, controllers, players, readers, storage modules, and computer peripherals; portable audio and video players/recorders which use semiconductor devices as recording media; and computer operating programs for semiconductor memory devices. FIRST USE: 19960105. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19960105
Mark Drawing Code
        (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number
        78179047
Filing Date
        October 28, 2002
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1A
Publication for Opposition Date
        September 23, 2003
Registration Number
        2794796
Registration Date
        December 16, 2003
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) SanDisk Corporation CORPORATION DELAWARE 140 Caspian Court Sunnyvale CALIFORNIA 94089
Prior Registration(s)
        2036202;2036203;2267082;2267083;2665717;2675539;AND OTHERS
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        Dana Brody-Brown

 

 

Mark
        QUADRANT
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: electronic components, semiconductor devices, and other parts for personal computers, namely integrated circuits, integrated circuit boards and other assemblies, motherboards, graphic cards, video cards, fax modem cards, other add-on cards, memory modules and computer monitors. FIRST USE: 19811130. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19811130
Mark Drawing Code
        (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number
        75039232
Filing Date
        January 2, 1996
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1A
Publication for Opposition Date
        January 14, 1997
Registration Number
        2113408
Registration Date
        November 18, 1997
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) Quadrant Components, Inc. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 4378 Enterprise Street Fremont CALIFORNIA 94538
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text
        SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        R LEE HAGELSHAW

 

 

Mark
        C
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer hardware; semiconductor devices; microcontrollers; facsimile machine components, namely, receivers and transmitters; telecommunications components, namely, data, music and voice transmitting modules, data, music and voice receiving modules, frequency and aptitude modulation transceivers, power amplifiers, and wireless communications and modules; tuners, modems and software modems; access processors and software; data, video and audio encoders and decoders; tuners for receiving processing and decoding television and data signals; computer software, firmware, microcode , and device drivers for use in data communications, data processing, networking, and imaging applications. FIRST USE: 19981130. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19990331
Mark Drawing Code
        (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Code
        261709 270301
Serial Number
        75578226
Filing Date
        October 26, 1998
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1B
Publication for Opposition Date
        June 11, 2002
Registration Number
        2736991
Registration Date
        July 15, 2003
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) CONEXANT SYSTEMS, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 4311 JAMBOREE ROAD NEWPORT BEACH CALIFORNIA 92660
Assignment Recorded
        ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        Jonathan W. Gumport

 

Mark
        ARPHIC
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computers; prerecorded disks of digital fonts and graphics, optical character readers, computer printer interlace cards, semiconductor devices, and hand-held electronic language translators. FIRST USE: 19970900. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19970900
Mark Drawing Code
        (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number
        74713522
Filing Date
        August 10, 1995
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1B
Publication for Opposition Date
        November 19, 1996
Registration Number
        2112720
Registration Date
        November 11, 1997
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) EASTERN GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD. CORPORATION CHINA 11 Fl., No. 168, Yung Chi Road Taipei, Taiwan CHINA

        (LAST LISTED OWNER) ARPHIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. CORPORATION BY CHANGE OF NAME CHINA 13FL.-1301, NO. 88, SEC. 2, JUNGSHIAU E. RD. TAIPEI TAIWAN
Assignment Recorded
        ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text
        SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR).
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        MORTON J. ROSENBERG

 

 

Mark
        ACCUCHANNEL
Pseudo Mark
        ACCURATE CHANNEL
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: semiconductors; integrated circuits; computer hardware; computer chips; encoded electronic circuit cards containing programming used to control wireless network access; wireless radio products, namely, transmitters, receivers, modems, media access controllers, transceivers, synthesizers, converters, oscillators, filters, power amplifiers, mixers and modulators. FIRST USE: 20030301. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20030301
Mark Drawing Code
        (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number
        78078553
Filing Date
        August 9, 2001
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1B
Publication for Opposition Date
        December 11, 2001
Registration Number
        2805723
Registration Date
        January 13, 2004
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) Resonext Communications, Inc. CORPORATION DELAWARE 1754 Technology Drive San Jose CALIFORNIA 95110
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        Roy S Gordet

 

Mark
        O2MICRO SMART CARD ENABLED
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Integrated circuits for controlling the operation of smart card readers and the operation of cardbus controllers. FIRST USE: 20020901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20020901
Mark Drawing Code
        (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Code
        200305
Serial Number
        78027933
Filing Date
        September 27, 2000
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1B
Publication for Opposition Date
        October 1, 2002
Registration Number
        2730567
Registration Date
        June 24, 2003
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) O2 MICRO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED CORPORATION CAYMAN ISLANDS P.O. BOX 1794 GT GRAND CAYMAN CAYMAN ISLANDS B.W.I.
Assignment Recorded
        ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Disclaimer Statement
        NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "SMART CARD ENABLED" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Description of Mark
        The mark consists of a drawing in white background with the word "O2MiCRO" in the top in black and the subscript "2" in red, and below the word "O2Micro" is an illustration of a rounded square in gold within which there are connecting lines in black, forming eight connecting figures with an opening in one side of each figure, with all the connecting figures forming a connector, and in the middle, is an octagonal shape with an opening at the top and bottom sides, below the gold rounded square is the word "SMART" in black, below the word "SMART" is the word "CARD" in black, below the word "CARD" is a gold background with the word "ENABLED" in white. The drawing includes the colors black, gold, white and red, and Applicant claims these colors as inherent features of the mark.
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        TERESA C TUCKER

 

Mark
        TOPSHINE
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Computer hardware; memory cards; circuit boards; data storage devices, namely, computer hard drives; computer connection cables; semiconductors; interface boards; integrated circuits; and electrical connectors. FIRST USE: 19960600. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20000500
Mark Drawing Code
        (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Code
        260921
Serial Number
        78045238
Filing Date
        January 26, 2001
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1B
Publication for Opposition Date
        October 2, 2001
Registration Number
        2784955
Registration Date
        November 18, 2003
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) Thine Microelectronics Corporation CORPORATION TAIWAN 2F., No. 176, Section 2, Min Sheng EastRoad Taipei TAIWAN 00000
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        Lin-Yun Cheng

 

Mark
        REALCOMTEC
Pseudo Mark
        REAL COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
Goods and Services
        IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Integrated circuit chips, semi-conductors, microcircuits, integrated circuits, circuit boards, electrical circuit boards, computer interface boards, and network devices, namely, computer network hubs, switches and routers. FIRST USE: 19990400. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20020300
Mark Drawing Code
        (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number
        76467038
Filing Date
        November 5, 2002
Current Filing Basis
        1A
Original Filing Basis
        1A
Publication for Opposition Date
        September 23, 2003
Registration Number
        2794169
Registration Date
        December 16, 2003
Owner Name and Address
        (REGISTRANT) Realcom Technology Corp. CORPORATION TAIWAN 8Fl.-5, No. 882, Sec. 2, Guangfu Rd. Hsinchu TAIWAN
Type of Mark
        TRADEMARK
Register
        PRINCIPAL
Live Dead Indicator
        LIVE
Attorney of Record
        Donald C. Casey, Esq.