Offc Action Outgoing

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE.

 

ISSUE/MAILING DATE:

 

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

 

SEARCH OF RECORDS

 

              The Office records have been searched and no similar registered or pending mark has been found that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).  TMEP §704.02.

 

INFORMALITIES

 

             Before the application can be considered further, the following informal issues must be addressed.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

               The wording “clothing, namely T-shirts, pants, jackets, outerwear, hats, sweatshirts, blouses and shirts” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because it does not put consumers on notice as to the precise nature of the applicant’s goods.  TMEP §1402.01.  Applicant may substitute the following wording, if accurate: 

 

             Class 25 - clothing, namely T-shirts, pants, jackets, outerwear, NAMELY ____________ specify the type of outerwear by its common commercial names, e.g. sweaters, coats, etc], hats, sweatshirts, blouses and shirts. 

 

               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 uses indefinite words such as “accessories,” “components,” “devices,” “equipment,” “materials,” “parts,” “systems” or “products,” such words must be followed by “namely,” followed by a list of the specific goods identified by their common commercial or generic names.  TMEP §§1402.01 and 1402.03(a).

 

               Please note that, while the identification of goods may be amended to clarify or limit the goods, adding to the goods or broadening the scope of the goods is not permitted.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06.  Therefore, applicant may not amend the identification to include goods that are not within the scope of the goods set forth in the present identification.

 

             For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and/or services in trademark applications, please see the online searchable Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services at http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html.

 

SPECIMEN NOT ACCEPTABLE

 

              The specimen is not acceptable because it does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce.  An application based on Section 1(a) must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods.  Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56; TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).   

 

                 The specimen is not acceptable as evidence of actual trademark use because it is not an actual specimen showing use of the mark with the identified services. Rather, it is a computer generated page on which the term HAY appears three times.  Thus it fails to show proper use on the goods or on packaging of the goods.

 

            Therefore, applicant must submit the following:

 

(1)   A substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for the goods specified in the application.

 

(2)   The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:  “The substitute specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.”  37 C.F.R. §2.59(a); TMEP §904.05.  If submitting a specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(c).

 

             Examples of 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 §§904.03 et seq.

 

Viable Option – Change Basis

 

              If applicant cannot satisfy the above requirements, applicant may amend the Section 1(a) filing basis (use in commerce) to Section 1(b) (intent to use basis), for which no specimen is required.  However, should applicant amend the basis to Section 1(b), registration cannot be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen.  15 U.S.C. §1051(c); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP Chapter 1100. 

 

              In order to amend to Section 1(b), applicant must submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or a signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:  “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 as of the filing date of the application.”  15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(2), 2.35(b)(1); TMEP §806.03(c).

 

Conditional Refusal

 

             Pending a proper response, registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce as a trademark.  15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56; TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).

 

CITIZENSHIP OF APPLICANT REQUIRED

 

             Applicant must specify his or her national citizenship for the record.  Trademark Act Section 1(a)(2), 15 U.S.C. §1051(a)(2); 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3)(i); TMEP §803.04.

 

              e.g.  Julie Cabana, an individual with U.S. citizenship.

 

STANDARD CHARACTER CLAIM REQUIRED

 

              Applicant must submit the following standard character claim:  “The mark consists of standard characters without claim to any particular font, style, size, or color.”  37 C.F.R. §2.52(a); TMEP §807.03(a).

 

CLOSING

 

               If applicant has questions about its application or needs assistance in responding to this Office action, please telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney directly at the number below.

 

 

/William H. Dawe, III/

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 108

(571) 272-9337 voice

(571) 273-9337 fax

 

 

RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: If there are any questions about the Office action, please contact the assigned examining attorney. A response to this Office action should be filed using the form available at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm. If notification of this Office action was received via e-mail, no response using this form may be filed for 72 hours after receipt of the notification. Do not attempt to respond by e-mail as the USPTO does not accept e-mailed responses.

 

If responding by paper mail, please include the following information: the application serial number, the mark, the filing date and the name, title/position, telephone number and e-mail address of the person signing the response.  Please use the following address: Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451.

 

STATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.  When conducting an online status check, print and maintain a copy of the complete TARR screen.  If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the assigned examining attorney.