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  76/516638

 

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

 

Section 2(e)(1) Refusal

The examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark merely describes the services.  Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(e)(1); TMEP section 1209 et seq.  A mark is merely descriptive under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. 1052(e)(1), if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose or use of the relevant goods/services.  In re Gyulay, 820 F.2d 1216, 3 USPQ2d 1009 (Fed. Cir. 1987);  In re Bed & Breakfast Registry, 791 F.2d 157, 229 USPQ 818 (Fed. Cir. 1986); In re MetPath Inc., 223 USPQ 88 (TTAB 1984); In re Bright‑Crest, Ltd., 204 USPQ 591 (TTAB 1979); TMEP section 1209.01(b).

 

The examining attorney must consider whether a mark is merely descriptive in relation to the identified goods/services, not in the abstract.  In re Omaha National Corp., 819 F.2d 1117, 2 USPQ2d 1859 (Fed. Cir. 1987); In re Abcor Development Corp., 588 F.2d 811, 200 USPQ 215 (C.C.P.A. 1978); In re Venture Lending Associates, 226 USPQ 285 (TTAB 1985); In re American Greetings Corp., 226 USPQ 365 (TTAB 1985).  TMEP §1209.01(b). 

 

The applicant's mark, WWW.IVFONLINE.COM, is for "retailing and supplying specialty products for use in the field of in vitro fertilization."  The mark is merely descriptive because it describes a feature, purpose, and use of the services.  “IVF” is the acronym for “in vitro fertilization.”  See  www.acronymfinder.com.    “Online” means

 

on-line (òn¹lìn´, ôn¹-) adjective

1.    Computer Science. a. Under the control of a central computer, as in a manufacturing process or an experiment. b. Connected to a computer network. c. Accessible via a computer or computer network: an on-line database.

2.          In progress; ongoing: on-line editorial projects.[1]

Users may order IVF products online, from the applicant.  Therefore, the mark is merely descriptive and unregistrable on the Principal Register.  

 

Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.

 

If the applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the applicant must also respond to the following issues.

 

Recitation of Services – Indefinite

The recitation of services is unacceptable as indefinite because the nature of the services rendered is not clear as presented.  The applicant may adopt the following recitation, if accurate:  Electronic retailing services via computer featuring specialty products for use in the field of in vitro fertilization, in International Class 35.  TMEP §1402.11.

 

The applicant is advised that the Trademark Office Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services, which includes the correct classifications of the listed goods and services, may be found online at http://www.gov.uspto.report/web/offices/tac/doc/gsmanual/.  The applicant may find this resource to be quite useful in framing an amended and acceptable identification of services in this matter.  Parentheses and brackets should not be included in the actual identification of services adopted by the applicant.

 

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 services that are not within the scope of the services recited in the present identification.

 

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 704.02.

 

Further action awaits response to the above.

 

 

 

 

/Mrs. W. K. H. Price, Esq./

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 111

(703) 308-9111,ext. 426

ecom111@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.