UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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SERIAL NO: 76/202471
APPLICANT: DirectHelp, Inc.
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: CLAY A. TILLACK SCHIFF HARDIN & WAITE 6600 SEARS TOWER CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60606
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RETURN ADDRESS: Commissioner for Trademarks 2900 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202-3514 ecom110@uspto.gov
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MARK: DIRECTHELP
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: N/A
CORRESPONDENT EMAIL ADDRESS:
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Please provide in all correspondence:
1. Filing date, serial number, mark and applicant's name. 2. Date of this Office Action. 3. Examining Attorney's name and Law Office number. 4. Your telephone number and e-mail address.
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Serial Number 76/202471
The Office has reassigned this application to the undersigned examining attorney.
This letter responds to the applicant’s communication filed on 6 January 2003.
The drawing displays the mark as DIRECTHELP (one word). However, this differs from the display of the mark on the specimen, where it appears as DIRECT HELP (two distinct words). The applicant must either:
(1) submit a new drawing of the mark that agrees with the specimen; or
(2) submit a substitute specimen that shows use of the mark shown in the drawing.
The applicant may not amend the drawing if the amendment would materially alter the character of the mark. 37 C.F.R. §2.72(b); TMEP §§807.14, 807.14(a) and 807.14(a)(i).
If a substitute specimen is submitted, the applicant must verify, with an affidavit or a declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20, that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce prior to the expiration of the time allowed to the applicant for filing a statement of use. 37 C.F.R. §§2.59(b) and 2.72(b); TMEP §904.09.
If the applicant amends the drawing to depict the mark as two words, it must disclaim the descriptive wording “HELP” apart from the mark as shown. Trademark Act Section 6, 15 U.S.C. §1056; TMEP §§1213 and 1213.03(a). The wording is merely descriptive because it identifies the nature of the services – providing “help” to its customers.
The computerized printing format for the Trademark Official Gazette requires a standard form for a disclaimer. TMEP §1213.08(a)(i). A properly worded disclaimer should read as follows:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use HELP apart from the mark as shown.
See In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
If the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.
/Katherine Stoides/
Examining Attorney
Law Office 110
(703) 308-9110 ext.166
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.
FOR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING ATTORNEY.