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  76/599471

 

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

 

No Conflicting Marks Found

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.

 

Disclaimer

The applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording "CERTIFIED" apart from the mark as shown. Trademark Act Section 6, 15 U.S.C. Section 1056; TMEP sections 1213 and 1213.02(a).  The wording is merely descriptive of a feature of the goods.

 

The computerized printing format for the Trademark Official Gazette requires a standard form for a disclaimer.   TMEP section 1213.09(a)(i).  A properly worded disclaimer should read as follows:

 

            No claim is made to the exclusive right to use CERTIFIED apart from the mark as shown.

 

See In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm'r Pats. 1983).

 

A disclaimer does not remove the disclaimed matter from the mark.  It is simply a statement that the applicant does not claim exclusive rights in the disclaimed wording or design apart from the mark as shown in the drawing.

 

Identification of Goods

The identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite.  The applicant must identify the goods with more specificity.  The applicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate: 

 

Computer hardware and software for use as __________[please specify function (e.g. database management)] for motor vehicles; computer chips and electronic sensors for motor vehicles, and control equipment, namely, __________[please specify common commercial name (e.g. cruise control)] for motor vehicles, in International Class 9.

 

Parts and accessories for motor vehicles, namely, __________[please specify common commercial name], in International Class XXX [class will depend on type of goods].

 

The applicant may wish to consult the on-line identification manual on the PTO homepage for acceptable common names of goods and services.

 

http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html 

 

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(a); TMEP section 804.09.  Therefore, the applicant may not amend to include any goods that are not within the scope of goods set forth in the present identification.

 

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

 

PLEASE NOTE:  Applicant is encouraged to telephone the trademark examining attorney to resolve the issues raised above.

 

 

NOTICE:  FEE CHANGE   

 

Effective January 31, 2005 and pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Pub. L. 108-447, the following are the fees that will be charged for filing a trademark application:

 

(1) $325 per international class if filed electronically using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS); or 

 

(2)   $375 per international class if filed on paper

 

These fees will be charged not only when a new application is filed, but also when payments are made to add classes to an existing application. If such payments are submitted with a TEAS response, the fee will be  $325 per class, and if such payments are made with a paper response, the fee will be $375 per class.

 

The new fee requirements will apply to any fees filed on or after January 31, 2005.

 

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.

 

 

/tkhl/

Tarah K. Hardy Ludlow

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 110

571-272-9361

571-273-9110 fax

 

 

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS OFFICE ACTION:

• ONLINE RESPONSE:  You may respond formally using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office Action form (visit http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.htm and follow the instructions, but if the Office Action issued via email you must wait 72 hours after receipt of the Office Action to respond via TEAS).
• REGULAR MAIL RESPONSE:  To respond by regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing return address above and include the serial number, law office number and examining attorney’s name in your response.

 

STATUS OF APPLICATION: To check the status of your application, visit the Office’s Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.

 

VIEW APPLICATION DOCUMENTS ONLINE: Documents in the electronic file for pending applications can be viewed and downloaded online at http://portal.gov.uspto.report/external/tow.

 

GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION: For general information about trademarks, please visit the Office’s website at http://www.gov.uspto.report/main/trademarks.htm

 

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