UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

 POST REGISTRATION OFFICE ACTION

 

 

 

Registration Number  2789402

 

The Sections 8 & 15 Combined Affidavit was received on December 2, 2009.  The Section 15 portion of the combined affidavit can be acknowledged.  However, the Section 8 portion is not accepted for the reason(s) set forth below.

 

Specimen Issue

 

The owner must submit a substitute specimen(s) identical in content to the specimen(s) originally filed with the Section 8 Affidavit.  This substitute specimen(s) must be readable and legible.  The originally filed specimen(s) of record is illegible and cannot be reviewed and/or cannot be reviewed in its entirety.

 

If the substitute specimen(s) being submitted is identical to the specimen(s) that was originally filed with the Section 8 Affidavit, then the owner should include a statement that the substitute specimen is a true copy of the specimen originally submitted.  No verification or fee is necessary. See TMEP §1604.12(b).

 

If the substitute specimen(s) is not identical to the specimen(s) originally submitted, then the owner must submit a statement that the substitute specimen(s) was in use in commerce during the relevant period for filing the 6-year Section 8, verified with an affidavit or a signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20.  37 C.F.R. §2.161(g)(1); TMEP §1604.12(c). 

 

Specimen Declaration

 

The following statement and declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 can be used to verify the Section 8 Affidavit, if properly signed and dated:

 

The owner was using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services identified in the registration for which use of the mark in commerce is claimed, as evidenced by the submitted specimen, during the relevant period for filing the 6-year Section 8, that is, between the 5^th and 6^th year anniversary after the date of registration or the date of publication under 15 U.S.C. §1062.

 

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

 

RESPONSE TIME DEADLINE:  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.

 

/dda/

Dana D. Austin

Dana D. Austin

Trademark Specialist

Post Registration Division

(571) 272-9536 (Direct Line)

(571) 273-9536 (Fax)

 

How to respond to this Office Action:

 

To respond formally via regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing Return Address listed above and include the registration number, the words 'Post Registration' and the examiner'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.uspto.gov/

 

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