UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
SERIAL NO: 76/523482
APPLICANT: King Koil Licensing Company, Inc.
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: MICHAEL A. CARRILLO ALTHEIMER & GRAY 10 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, STE 3800 CHICAGO, LLINOIS 60606
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RETURN ADDRESS: Commissioner for Trademarks 2900 Crystal Drive Arlington, VA 22202-3514 ecom103@uspto.gov
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MARK: THE WORLD'S MOST NATURALLY RESPONSIVE SL ETC.
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: 42405.166T1
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 76/523482
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. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.
Merely Descriptive
The examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark merely describes the goods. Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); TMEP §§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. 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 §1209.01(b).
Applicant seeks to register the mark “THE WORLD’S MOST NATURALLY RESPONSIVE SLEEP SYSTEM for beds, mattresses, box springs and pillows .” The mark is made up of four terms: the term, “sleep system” immediately describes applicant’s goods. The phrase “The World’s Most Naturally” is a combination of merely laudatory terms to describe applicant’s goods. See attached registrations that have disclaimed “SLEEP SYSTEM. ”
Laudatory terms, those which attribute quality or excellence to goods or services, are equivalent to other descriptive terms under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); TMEP §1209.03(k). That is, laudatory terms are nondistinctive and unregistrable without proof of acquired distinctiveness. In re Nett Designs Inc., 236 F.3d 1339, 57 USPQ2d 1564 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (THE ULTIMATE BIKE RACK); In re Best Software Inc., 58 USPQ2d 1314 (TTAB 2001) (BEST and PREMIER); In re Dos Padres Inc., 49 USPQ2d 1860 (TTAB 1998) (QUESO QUESADILLA SUPREME); In re Consolidated Cigar Co., 35 USPQ2d 1290 (TTAB 1995) (SUPER BUY); General Foods Corp. v. Ralston Purina Co., 220 USPQ 990 (TTAB 1984) (ORIGINAL BLEND); In re Wileswood, Inc., 201 USPQ 400 (TTAB 1978) (AMERICA’S FAVORITE POPCORN).
Applicant has filed this as an intent to use application. Please note that the mark in an application under Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. §1051(b), is not eligible for registration on the Supplemental Register until an acceptable amendment to allege use under 37 C.F.R. §2.76 or statement of use under 37 C.F.R. §2.88 has been timely filed. 37 C.F.R. §2.47(c); TMEP §815.02, 816.02 and 1102.03. When such an application is changed from the Principal Register to the Supplemental Register, the effective filing date of the application is the date of filing of the allegation of use. 37 C.F.R. §2.75(b); TMEP §§206.01 and 816.02.
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).
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 has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.
/Kevon L. Chisolm/
Trademark Attorney
Law Office 103
(703)-308-9103, ext. 221
(703)-746-8103 fax
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.