UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

PRIORITY ACTION

 

OFFICE SEARCH:  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. 

 

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, WE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OUR MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE.  This case will be given priority as an amended case if you respond to the requirements stated below within two months.

 

FOR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING ATTORNEY.

 

Serial Number  76/594659

 

The following issues were discussed in communication with Roy Ekstrand on January 6, 2005.  The assigned examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and determined the following.

 

SEARCH OF THE RECORDS

 

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.

 

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

The identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite because the precise nature of the goods is unclear from the present wording.  The applicant must amend the identification to specify the commercial name of the goods.  If there is no common commercial name for the product, the applicant must describe the product and its intended uses. TMEP §1402.01.

 

When the goods include computer software, the applicant must specify the function of the programs, e.g., for use in database management, for use as a spreadsheet, for word processing, etc. and, if software is content- or field-specific, the field of use. 

 

In the identification of goods, applicant must use the common commercial or generic names for the goods, be as complete and specific as possible, and avoid the use of indefinite words and phrases.  If applicant chooses to use indefinite terms such as "accessories," "components," "devices," "equipment," "materials," "parts," "systems" and "products," then such terms must be followed by the word "namely" and a list of the specific goods identified by their common commercial or generic names.  TMEP §§1402.01 and 1402.03(a).

 

The applicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate: 

 

Class 9

__________ [applicant must specify the goods intended by the wording “gaming apparatus, software and operative systems.”  Please note that with respect to computer software, the applicant must specify the function of the programs, e.g., for use in database management, for use as a spreadsheet, for word processing, etc. and, if software is content- or field-specific, the field of use.  The applicant may adopt the following language:  “Gaming equipment, namely, slot machines, gaming machines and game software used therewith”], in International Class 9.

 

TMEP section 1402.

 

Applicant may wish to refer to the on-line identification manual on the PTO homepage for acceptable names of goods and services.  The web page address is:

 

            http://www.gov.uspto.report/web/office/tac/doc/gsmanual/

 

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 goods that are not within the scope of goods set forth in the present identification.

 

 

STANDARD CHARACTER DRAWING CLAIM

 

Applicant must submit the following standard character claim:  “The mark is presented in standard characters without claim to any particular font style, size, or color.”  37 C.F.R. §2.52(a).

 

In a standard character drawing, the mark on the drawing consists of only words, letters or numbers, but does not include any designs or claims as to particular font style, size, or color.  A registration for a mark using a standard character drawing affords protection not only for the standard character version of the mark, but for any possible renderings of the mark, as long as those renderings do not contain any design elements; i.e., a registered standard character drawing of the mark gives protection for display on the specimens in any lettering style.  A special-form drawing, on the other hand, shows the mark in stylized letters and/or with a design element and provides protection for only that specific rendering.  37 C.F.R. §2.52; Exam Guide 01-03, section I; See TMEP §§807.06 et seq. and TMEP §807.07 et seq.

 

 

SPECIMEN OF USE REQUIRED

 

Applicant must submit (1) a specimen (i.e., an example of how applicant actually uses its mark in commerce for the goods listed in the application) showing the mark as it is used in commerce, and, (2) a statement that “the specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application,” verified with a notarized affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20.  37 C.F.R. §2.59(a); TMEP §904.09.

 

A specimen showing use of the mark in commerce for the identified goods is required for an application based on use of the mark in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(a), 15 U.S.C. §1051(a).  This application does not include a specimen.  TMEP §904.

 

Examples of acceptable specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging, or displays associated with the goods at their point of sale.  TMEP §§904.04 et seq.

 

If applicant cannot comply with the requirement for a specimen of usefor the Section 1(a) basis asserted, then applicant may substitute a different basis for filing if applicant can meet the requirements for the new basis. See TMEP §§806.03 et seq.

 

In this case, applicant may wish to amend the application to assert a 1(b)basis.

 

Where an application is based on a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce, applicant must submit the following statement:

 

Applicant has had a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods or services listed in the application since the filing date of the application.

 

This statement must be verified with a notarized affidavit or a signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §§2.20 and 2.33.  Trademark Act Section 1(b), 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(2); TMEP §806.01(b).

 

 

Electronic Responses

 

Applicant may respond to this Office action using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) at <http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html>.  When using TEAS the data the applicant submits is directly uploaded into the Office’s database, which reduces processing time and eliminates the possibility of data entry errors by the Office.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to use TEAS to respond to Office actions.  Applicants using TEAS should not submit a duplicate paper copy of the response.

 

 

Status of Application

 

The Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) database on the USPTO website at http://tarr.uspto.gov provides detailed, up to the minute information about the status and prosecution history of trademark applications and registrations.  The TARR database is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Status and status date information is also available via push-button telephone at (703) 305‑8747 from 6:30 a.m. until midnight, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. 

 

 

Fee Increase Effective January 1, 2003

 

Effective January 1, 2003, the fee for filing an application for trademark registration will be increased to $335.00 per International Class.  The USPTO will not accord a filing date to applications that are filed on or after that date that are not accompanied by a minimum of $335.00. 

 

Additionally, the fee for amending an existing application to add an additional class or classes of goods/services will be $335.00 per class for classes added on or after January 1, 2003.

 

 

Change In USPTO Trademark Contact Information

 

The USPTO Trademark Operations will be moving to the new Alexandria, Virginia campus in October and November 2004.  During that time, you are strongly encouraged to communicate with the USPTO through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) which can be found at www.uspto.gov.

 

Effective October 4, 2004, all Trademark-related paper mail must be sent to:

 

            Commissioner for Trademarks

            P.O. Box 1451

            Alexandria, VA  22313-1451

 

My Law Office will move on October 18, 2004.  To reach me by phone after that date call (571) 272-9195. 

 

To submit a fax response to this Office action after that date, send your response to the Law Office fax number, namely (571) 273-9116.

 

If the applicant has any questions or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned examining attorney.

 

 

NOTICE:  TRADEMARK OPERATION RELOCATION

 

The Trademark Operation has relocated to Alexandria, Virginia.  Effective October 4, 2004, all Trademark-related paper mail (except documents sent to the Assignment Services Division for recordation, certain documents filed under the Madrid Protocol, and requests for copies of trademark documents) must be sent to:

 

Commissioner for Trademarks

P.O. Box 1451

Alexandria, VA  22313-1451

 

Applicants, attorneys and other Trademark customers are strongly encouraged to correspond with the USPTO online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html.

 

 

 

/Sharon A. Meier/

_______________________________

Sharon A. Meier

Trademark Attorney, Law Office 116

(571) 272-9195 - phone

(571) 273-9116 -

 

 

 

How to respond to this Office Action:

 

You may respond formally using the Office's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office Action form (visit http://eteas.gov.uspto.report/V2.0/oa242/WIZARD.htm and follow the instructions therein, but you must wait until at least 72 hours after receipt if the office action issued via e-mail).  PLEASE NOTE: Responses to Office Actions on applications filed under the Madrid Protocol (Section 66(a)) CANNOT currently be filed via TEAS.

 

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