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  76/453004

 

            The assigned examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and determined the following.

 

SEARCH OF THE OFFICE RECORDS

 

            The trademark attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered or pending mark which would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(d).  TMEP section 1105.01.

 

INFORMALITIES

 

              Before the application can be considered further, the following informal issues must be addressed.

 

 

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

              The wording “WOVEN AND NON-WOVEN FABRICS SOLD IN WEB, CUT, SHEET AND ROLL FORM FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UPOLSTERY FABRIC AND CURTAIN FABRIC” in the identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite.  The applicant must amend the identification to specify the commercial name of the goods.  If there is no common commercial name for the product, the applicant must describe the product and its intended uses. TMEP §1402.01.

 

            e.g.  woven and non-woven natural and synthetic fabrics treated with anti-fungal and anti-microbial agents for the manufacture of curtains and upholstery fabrics  

 

             The wording “fabrics for the manufacture of wipes, curtains, partitions, brushes, pads, gloves, gowns, masks, covers, diapers, filters, liners and mop heads, made of natural and synthetic fibers incorporating anti-fungal and anti-microbial agents in the identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite.  The applicant may amend this wording to “natural and synthetic fabrics treated with anti-fungal and anti-microbial agents for the manufacture of wipes, curtains, partitions, brushes, pads, gloves, gowns, masks, covers, diapers, filters, liners and mop heads,” if accurate.  TMEP §1402.01.

 

             In the identification, the applicant must use the common commercial names for the goods, be as complete and specific as possible and avoid the use of indefinite words and phrases.  If the applicant chooses to use indefinite terms, such as “accessories,” “components,” “devices,” “equipment,” “materials,” “parts,” “systems” and “products,” then those words must be followed by the word “namely” and the goods listed by their common commercial names.  TMEP §§1402.01 and 1402.03(a).

 

              Please note that, while an application may be amended to clarify or limit the identification, additions to the identification are not permitted.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.  Therefore, the applicant may not amend to include any goods that are not within the scope of goods set forth in the present identification.

 

            For assistance regarding an acceptable listing of goods and/or services, please see the on‑line searchable Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services, at http://www.gov.uspto.report/web/offices/tac/doc/gsmanual/.

INFORMATION REQUEST – GOODS

 

              The nature of the goods on which the applicant uses the mark is not clear from the present record.  The applicant must submit samples of advertisements or promotional materials.  If such materials are not available, the applicant must submit a photograph of the goods and describe their nature, purpose and channels of trade.  37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §§814 and 1402.01(d). 

 

              Trademark Rule 2.61(b) states "The examiner may require the applicant to furnish such information and exhibits as may be reasonably necessary to the proper examination of the application".  The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has upheld a refusal of registration based on the applicant's failure to provide information requested under this rule.  In re Babies Beat Inc., 13 USPQ2d 1729 (TTAB 1990)(failure to submit patent information regarding configuration). 

 

SPECIMEN NOT ACCEPTABLE

 

             The specimen is unacceptable as evidence of actual trademark use because it does not show use of the mark with the identified goods of fabrics.  Rather, the specimen is a brochure for wipes showing use of the mark.  The applicant must submit a specimen showing the mark as used in commerce.  37 C.F.R. §2.56.  Examples of acceptable specimens are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers or photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging.  TMEP §904.04 et seq.  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 at least as early as the filing date of the application.  Jim Dandy Co. v. Siler City Mills, Inc., 209 USPQ 764 (TTAB 1981); 37 C.F.R. §2.59(a); TMEP §904.09.

CLOSING

 

              If the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.

 

 

 

 

 

 

/WILLIAM H. DAWE III/

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 108

(703) 308-9108 ext. 294

(703) 746-8108 (Fax)

ecom108@uspto.gov

 

 

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.