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  76/536686

 

This letter responds to the applicant’s communication filed on March 18, 2004.

 

The refusal to register made pursuant to Section 2(e)(1) of the act is continued and made Final.

 

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 §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). 

 

It is not necessary that a term describe all of the purposes, functions, characteristics or features of the goods/services to be merely descriptive.  It is enough if the term describes one attribute of the goods/services.  In re H.U.D.D.L.E., 216 USPQ 358 (TTAB 1982); In re MBAssociates, 180 USPQ 338 (TTAB 1973).  TMEP §1209.01(b). 

 

Traditional is defined by the dictionary in pertinent part as “manner, method, or style.”  Décor is defined as “decoration.  The style and layout of interior furnishings.”  See, Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.  Taken together they serve to describe an item or article that is a decoration that has a particular manner or style.  The following news articles further evidence the fact that “traditional décor” denotes a particular of furnishing or design.  The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has held that materials obtained through computerized text searching are competent evidence to show the descriptive use of terms under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1).  In re National Data Corp., 222 USPQ 515, 517 n.3 (TTAB 1984).  In addition, the enclosed registrations demonstrate that Décor is descriptive in character when used to denote electronic articles.  See attachments.  Thus, when the wording “Traditional Décor” is used to identify the goods at issue the term at issue is merely descriptive, to wit, a furnishing item that could or would be classified as being of or emanating from “traditional décor.”  The use of “series” has no trademark significance since it serves to denote that there are a variety of such articles available for purchase by the public.

 

For the foregoing reasons the refusal to register made pursuant to Section 2(e)(1) of the Act is continued and made Final.

 

Applicant may respond to the Final Action by either:  (1) submitting a timely response that fully satisfies any outstanding requirements, if feasible;  or  (2) timely filing an appeal of this Final Action to the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.64(a);  TMEP section 715.01.  If applicant  fails to respond within six months of the mailing date of this refusal, the application will be abandoned.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.65(a).

 

 

 

 

/Edward Nelson/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 106

(703) 308-9106 ext. 197

(703) 308-8106 (fax. no.)

 

 

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 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.