UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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SERIAL NO: 76/521634
APPLICANT: Florida Atlantic University
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: J. RODMAN STEELE, JR. AKERMAN SENTERFITT PO BOX 3188 WEST PALM BEACH FL 33402-3188
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RETURN ADDRESS: Commissioner for Trademarks 2900 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202-3514 ecom114@uspto.gov
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MARK: FAU
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: 6818-77
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 76/521634
The assigned examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and determined the following.
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.
The examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark is ornamental as used on the goods. Trademark Act Sections 1, 2 and 45, 15 U.S.C. Sections 1051, 1052 and 1127. The examining attorney must conclude on the present record that the public would perceive the proposed mark merely as a decorative or ornamental feature of the goods and not as an indicator of the source of the goods. See In re Owens‑Corning Fiberglass Corp., 774 F.2d 1116, 227 USPQ 417 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re David Crystal, Inc., 296 F.2d 771, 132 USPQ 1 (CCPA 1961); In re Villeroy & Boch S.A.R.L., 5 USPQ2d 1451 (TTAB 1987); In re Astro-Gods Inc., 223 USPQ 621 (TTAB 1984); In re Olin Corp., 181 USPQ 182 (TTAB 1973); TMEP section 1202.04 et seq. The applicant has submitted specimens showing use of the mark on the goods as a design on the face of a license, the design of a cuff link, on the cover of a notebook, the side of an athletic bag, the design on a key chain, across a blanket, on a glass, the front of a tee shirt, and on the side of golf balls. The manner in which the mark has been used on the goods does not indicate a source of origin for the goods but rather appears to be an ornamental feature of the goods.
The applicant may attempt to overcome the stated refusal in either of two ways. The applicant may submit evidence that the proposed mark has become distinctive of the applicant's goods in commerce. Evidence submitted to show that the mark has acquired distinctiveness as an indicator of the source of the applicant's goods may consist of examples of advertising and promotional materials that specifically promote the subject matter for which registration is sought as a mark, dollar figures for advertising devoted to such promotion, dealer and consumer statements of recognition of the subject matter as a mark and any other evidence that establishes recognition of the matter as a mark for the goods. See TMEP section 1202.04(d).
In the alternative, the applicant may attempt to overcome the refusal by showing that the proposed mark is an indicator of secondary source or sponsorship for the identified goods. That is, the applicant may submit evidence showing that the proposed mark would be recognized as a trademark or service mark through the applicant's use of the proposed mark with goods or services other than those identified here. The applicant must establish that, as a result of this use on other goods or services, the public would recognize the applicant as the secondary source or sponsor of the identified goods. See TMEP section 1202.04(c).
Although the examining attorney has refused registration on the Principal Register, the applicant may amend the application to seek registration on the Supplemental Register. Trademark Act Section 23, 15 U.S.C. Section 1091; 37 C.F.R. Sections 2.47 and 2.75(a); TMEP sections 202.02(b) and 1115.
In the alternative, if the applicant chooses, the applicant may submit substitute specimens showing non-ornamental use of the mark in relation to the identified goods. Examples of an acceptable specimen for goods are hang tags for clothing, tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, and photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging. TMEP section 1301.04. The applicant must verify, with an affidavit or a declaration under 37 C.F.R. Section 2.20, that the substitute specimens were in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application. 37 C.F.R. Section 2.59(a); TMEP section 905.10. The statement supporting use of the substitute specimens must read as follows:
The substitute specimens were in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.
The applicant must sign this statement either in affidavit form or with a declaration under 37 C.F.R. Section 2.20.
The following is a properly worded declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20. At the end of the response, the applicant should insert the declaration signed by a person authorized to sign under 37 C.F.R. §2.33(a).
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 statements may jeopardize the validity of the application or any resulting registration, declares that the facts set forth in this application are true; all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true; and all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
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(Signature)
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(Print or Type Name and Position)
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(Date)
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 informalities.
The identification of goods as to International Class 24 and 28 is unacceptable because it refers to goods properly classified in more than the identified International Classes. The applicant may adopt one or more of the following identification formats, if accurate:
Blankets (indicate type of blankets, e.g., fire blankets in International class 009, Electric blankets not for medical purposes in International Class 11, Bed blankets in International Class 24, etc.), cloth flags, and cloth banners in International Class 24;
Games, namely, (specify goods by their common commercial names, e.g., Board games; Card games, Action skill games, etc.); playing cards, plush toys, Christmas tree ornaments, except confectionery or illumination articles, and footballs, in International Class 28.
To the extent the suggested identification of goods or services is incomplete or inaccurate, the applicant is advised that the Trademark Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual is accessible via the USPTO homepage at www.uspto.gov under the heading Trademarks and the subheadings Guidance and Manuals and Legal Resources. 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 that are not within the scope of the goods recited in the present identification.
If the applicant chooses to add classes to this application based on use in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(a), 15 U.S.C. §1051(a), the applicant must comply with each of the following:
(1) The applicant must specifically identify the goods in each class and list the goods by international class with the classes listed in ascending numerical order. TMEP §1403.01.
(2) The applicant must submit a filing fee for each international class of goods not covered by the fee already paid. 37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(1) and 2.86(b); TMEP §§810.01 and 1403.01. Effective January 1, 2003, the fee for filing a trademark application is $335 for each class. This applies to classes added to pending applications as well as to new applications filed on or after that date.
(3) The applicant must submit:
(a) dates of first use and first use in commerce and one specimen for each class that includes goods or services based on use in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(a). The dates of use must be at least as early as the filing date of this application, 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1) and 2.86(a), and the specimen(s) must have been in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application, and/or
(b) a statement of a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with all the goods or services specified in each class that includes goods or services based on a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(b), where such statement was not included for the goods or services in the original application.
(4) The applicant must submit an affidavit or a declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 signed by the applicant to verify (3) above. 37 C.F.R. §§2.59(a) and 2.71(c).
The drawing is not acceptable because it uses gray to indicate shading and will not reproduce satisfactorily. The applicant must submit a new drawing showing the mark clearly and conforming to 37 C.F.R. §2.52. TMEP §807.07(a).
The requirements for a special‑form drawing are as follows:
(1) The drawing must appear in black and white; no color is permitted.
(2) Every line and letter must be black and clear.
(3) The use of gray to indicate shading is unacceptable.
(4) The lining must not be too fine or too close together.
(5) The preferred size of the area in which the mark is displayed is 2½ inches (6.1 cm.) high and 2½ inches (6.1 cm.) wide. It should not be larger than 4 inches (10.3 cm.) high or 4 inches (10.3 cm.) wide.
(6) If the reduction of the mark to the required size renders any details illegible, the applicant may insert a statement in the application to describe the mark and these details.
37 C.F.R. §2.52; TMEP §§807.01(b) and 807.07(a). The Office will enforce these drawing requirements strictly.
The Office prefers that the drawing be depicted on a separate sheet of smooth, nonshiny, white paper 8 to 8½ inches (20.3 to 21.6 cm.) wide and 11 inches (27.9 cm.) long, and that the sheet contain a heading listing, on separate lines, the applicant’s complete name; the applicant’s address; the goods or services recited in the application; and, if the application is filed under Section 1(a) of the Act, the dates of first use of the mark and of first use of the mark in commerce; or, if the application is filed under Section 44(d), the priority filing date of the foreign application. 37 C.F.R. §2.52(b); TMEP §§807.01(a), 807.01(b), 807.01(c) and 807.07(a).
New Trademark Rules pertaining to drawings went into effect on November 2, 2003. The new rules may be found at 37 C.F.R. §2.52 et seq. and information regarding these rules may be found in Exam Guide 01-03.
All applications filed on or after November 2, 2003, must comply with the new drawing rules. For applications filed before November 2, 2003, the new rules are optional. Applicants opting to amend their drawing to comply with the new rules must advise the assigned Examining Attorney.
If the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.
/AKhan/
Trademark Attorney
Law Office 114
(703) 308-9114 x-196
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.