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  76/557568

 

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

 

Search Results

Although the examining attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered mark which would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d), the examining attorney encloses information regarding pending Application Serial No. 78-1883608.  37 C.F.R. §2.83. 

 

There may be a likelihood of confusion between the applicant’s mark and the mark in the above noted application under Section 2(d) of the Act.  The filing date of the referenced application precedes the applicant’s filing date.  If the earlier‑filed application matures into a registration, the examining attorney may refuse registration under Section 2(d).

 

Section 2(e)(1) - Descriptive Refusal

The examining attorney refuses registration on the Principal Register because the proposed mark merely describes the goods/services.  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/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). 

 

Applicant’s proposed mark WORDPLAY is used on “equipment sold as a unit for playing games, namely parlor and board games.”

 

WORDPLAY is defined, in pertinent part, as

                               2.                            The act or an instance of playing on words.[1]

 

The purpose of applicant’s board game is to “try to form a word that contains certain letters…The longer the word, the more points are given.” “WORDPLAY for Kids helps to develop a child’s

 

                                                Word-building skills

                                                Vocabulary skills

                                                Spelling skills

                                                Concentration skills.”

 

The purpose of playing the game is to develop words.  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). 

 

Because WORDPLAY describes a feature or purpose of the relevant goods, it is merely descriptive and registration must be refused.

 

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 issue.

 

The nature of the goods on which the applicant uses the mark is not clear from the present record.  The applicant must submit samples of advertisements or promotional materials.  If such materials are not available, the applicant must submit a photograph of the goods and describe their nature, purpose and channels of trade.  37 C.F.R. §2.61(b); TMEP §§814 and 1402.01(d). 

 

 

 

 

 

/Michelle S. Wiseman/

Trademark Attorney

United States Patent & Trademark Office

Law Office 108

(703) 308-9108 x 243

michelle.wiseman@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 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.