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  76/461053

 

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

Search

The examining 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.

 

Identification of Goods Unacceptable

The identification of goods is too broad because it could include goods classified in several classes.  It is also unacceptable as indefinite.  Signs and road signs are classified based on composition.  Therefore, the applicant may amend the identification to substitute one or more of the following, if accurate:

 

Non-luminous and non-mechanical metal signs [and road signs]; metal billboards (Class 6), and/or

 

Specify [backlit, electrical, luminous, mechanical, neon, etc.] signs [and road signs] (Class 9), and/or

 

Printed paper signs (Class 16), and/or

 

Non-luminous, non-mechanical signs [and road signs] not of metal; wood signposts; billboards not of metal (Class 19), and/or

 

Inflatable plastic signs; [specify wood or plastic] signboards (Class 20).  TMEP section 1301.05.

 

If the applicant prosecutes this application as a combined, or multiple‑class, application, the applicant must comply with each of the following.

                        (1)  The applicant must list the goods by international class with the classes listed in ascending numerical order.  TMEP section 1113.01.

                        (2)  The applicant must submit a filing fee for each international class of goods not covered by the fee already paid.  The filing fee is $335.00 per class.  37 C.F.R. Sections 2.6(a)(1) and 2.86(b); TMEP sections 810.01 and 1113.01.

 

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. Section 2.71(b); TMEP section 804.09.  Therefore, the applicant may not amend to include any goods or services that are not within the scope of the goods and services recited in the present identification.

 

Application Pursuant to Sections 1(b) and 44(d)

The applicant has filed asserting a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. §1051(b), and claiming priority under Section 44(d), 15 U.S.C. §1126(d), based on a foreign application.  Under these circumstances, the applicant may rely solely on its intent to use the mark in commerce as the basis for registration and not the expected foreign registration, and still claim the benefit of the priority filing date.  If the applicant chooses to do so, this Office will approve the case for publication without waiting for the applicant to submit the foreign registration.  Of course, the application must be in condition for publication in all other respects.  Moreover, while the application may be approved for publication, the mark will not be registered until an acceptable allegation of use has been filed.

 

If the applicant wishes to proceed relying on the applicant’s intent to use the mark in commerce as the sole basis for registration, with the claim of priority, the applicant should so advise the examining attorney.  TMEP §§806.02(f) and 806.04(b).

 

If the applicant does not so indicate, this Office will presume that the applicant wishes to rely on the foreign registration as an additional basis for registration and will expect the applicant to submit a true copy, a photocopy, a certification, or a certified copy of the foreign registration and, if appropriate, an English translation.  It is customary for the translator to sign the translation.  TMEP §§1004.01 and 1004.01(b).

 

Fee increase effective January 1, 2003

Effective January 1, 2003, the fee for filing an application for trademark registration will be increased to $335.00 per International Class.  The USPTO will not accord a filing date to applications that are filed on or after that date that are not accompanied by a minimum of $335.00. 

 

Additionally, the fee for amending an existing application to add an additional class or classes of goods/services will be $335.00 per class for classes added on or after January 1, 2003.

 

 

/James T. Griffin/

Examining Attorney, Law Office 103

703-308-9103, ext. 126 (voice)

703-746-8103 (faxed responses)

ecom103@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.