UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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SERIAL NO: 76/690211
MARK: KNUCKLE DRAGGERS CAR
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: |
RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm
GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION: http://www.gov.uspto.report/main/trademarks.htm
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APPLICANT: HARRIS, MICHAEL
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: |
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TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE.
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62, 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
Applicant may wish to hire an attorney to assist in prosecuting this application because of the legal technicalities involved. The Office, however, cannot aid in the selection of an attorney. 37 C.F.R. §2.11. Applicant may wish to consult a local telephone directory for a listing of attorneys specializing in trademark or intellectual property law, or seek guidance from a local bar association attorney-referral service.
The following legal authorities govern the processing of trademark and service mark applications by the Office: The Trademark Act of 1946, 15 U.S.C. §§1051 et seq.; The Trademark Rules of Practice, 37 C.F.R. Part 2; and the Office’s Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) (5th ed. 2007). These legal resources are available online at http://www.gov.uspto.report/main/trademarks.htm.
SPECIMEN OF USE OMITTED – REQUIREMENTS, CONDITIONAL REFUSAL, OPTIONS
The application is incomplete because it does not include the required specimen showing use of the applied-for mark in commerce for the services identified in the application. An application based on Section 1(a) of the Trademark Act must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods and/or services. Trademark Act Sections 1(a) and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56; TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).
Therefore, applicant must submit the following:
(1) A specimen (i.e., an example of how applicant actually uses its mark in commerce) for each class of goods and/or services based on use in commerce; and
(2) The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application.” 37 C.F.R. §2.56(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 services are signs, photographs, brochures, website printouts or advertisements that show the mark used in the sale or advertising of the services. TMEP §§1301.04 et seq. A service mark specimen must show use of the mark “in the sale or advertising of services.” 15 U.S.C. §1127; 37 C.F.R. §2.56. Indeed, “[w]hile the nature of the services does not need to be specified in the specimens, there must be something which creates in the mind of the purchaser an association between the mark and the service activity.” In re Adair, 45 USPQ2d 1211, 1215 (TTAB 1997) (quoting In re Johnson Controls Inc., 33 USPQ2d 1318, 1320 (TTAB 1994)). There must be sufficient reference to the services in the specimen to create this association. In re Monograms Am., Inc., 51 USPQ2d 1317, 1318 (TTAB 1999); TMEP §§1301.04 et seq.
The undersigned being warned that willful false statements and the like are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statements and the like may jeopardize the validity of the application or document or any registration resulting there from, declares that the substitute specimen was in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application; all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true; and all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
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(Signature)
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(Print or Type Name and Position)
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(Date)
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 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) and 2.35(b)(1); TMEP §806.03(c).
Pending a proper response, registration is refused because applicant has not provided evidence of use in commerce of the applied-for mark. 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56; TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).
REQUIREMENTS – FEES, IDENTIFICATION, CLASSIFICATION
Therefore, applicant must either (1) restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fee(s) already paid, or (2) submit the fees for the additional class(es).
The applicant’s identification “Las Vegas based custom car club pre 1963 traditional nostalgic hot rods and rat rods” is unacceptable because it is not clear in that it does not describe the applicant’s services with sufficient specificity and because it includes services that may be classified in more than one class. Applicant must amend the identification to specify the common commercial or generic name for each of the services. If the services have no common commercial or generic name, applicant must describe the nature of the services as well as their main purpose, channels of trade, and the intended consumers. TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03. See suggestions below.
Applicant classified the services in Class 12. This is not a correct classification for services and must be amended. Products such as the hot rods and rat rods themselves are land vehicles and would be classified in Class 12; however, the identification in the application indicates car club services, not land vehicles such as hot rods and rat rods themselves. See suggestions below. Applicant must adopt the appropriate international classification number for the goods and/or services identified in the application. The United States follows the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization, to classify goods and services. TMEP §§1401.02, 1401.02(a).
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. See TMEP §1402.04. The Manual is updated each week. Applicants and attorneys may make suggestions to be accepted and included in the Identification Manual by emailing Administrator of Trademark Identification, Classification and Practice at TMIDSUGGEST@uspto.gov.
Applicant must rewrite the identification and classification of services in its entirety because of the nature and extent of the amendment. 37 C.F.R. §2.74(b). If accurate, applicant may amend the identification and classification of services to one OR more of the following:
Class 35
Car club services based in Las Vegas, namely, promoting the interests of owners and fans of pre-1963 traditional and nostalgic hot rods and rat rods; OR
Class 41
Car club services based in Las Vegas in the field of pre-1963 traditional and nostalgic hot rods and rat rods, namely, fan club and social club services, namely, arranging, organizing, and hosting social events, get-togethers, and parties for club members
(1) Applicant must list the goods and/or services by international class; and
(2) Applicant must submit a filing fee for each international class of goods and/or services not covered by the fee already paid (current fee information should be confirmed at http://www.uspto.gov).
See 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(2)-(3), 2.86(a); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).
REQUIREMENTS – DISCLAIMER
The Office can require an applicant to disclaim an unregistrable part of a mark consisting of particular wording, symbols, numbers, design elements or combinations thereof. 15 U.S.C. §1056(a). Under Trademark Act Section 2(e), the Office can refuse registration of an entire mark if the entire mark is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive of the goods. 15 U.S.C. §1052(e). Thus, the Office may require an applicant to disclaim a portion of a mark that, when used in connection with the goods or services, is merely descriptive, deceptively misdescriptive, primarily geographically descriptive, or otherwise unregistrable (e.g., generic). See TMEP §§1213, 1213.03. Wording is merely descriptive if it describes on or more qualities, characteristics, functions, features, purposes, uses and/or users of the specified goods and/or services. TMEP §1209.01(b); see In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005); In re Gyulay, 820 F.2d 1216, 1217-18, 3 USPQ2d 1009, 1010 (Fed. Cir. 1987); TMEP §1209.03(i); see In re Planalytics, Inc., 70 USPQ2d 1453, 1454 (TTAB 2004).
Applicant must insert a disclaimer of CAR CLUB in the application because this wording describes the applicant’s services, identified in the application as “Las Vegas based custom car club pre 1963 traditional nostalgic hot rods and rat rods.” See 15 U.S.C. §1056(a); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a).
The following is the accepted standard format for a disclaimer:
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “CAR CLUB” apart from the mark as shown.
TMEP §1213.08(a)(i).
The attached evidence from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_club supports this requirement:
A car club is a group of people who share a common interest in motor vehicles….
Car clubs often host gatherings (called "meets") which often also welcome interested non-members and their vehicles. Car clubs also may engage in other activities of various types, including races, cruising, shows, "mod" days when garage equipment and service tools are available for members to perform and assist each other with DIY work, or community service activities.
The attached X-search excerpts support this requirement. They show that the wording CAR CLUB has been required to be disclaimed and that marks with this wording were permitted registration on the Supplemental Register.
Failure to comply with a disclaimer requirement can result in a refusal to register the entire mark. TMEP §1213.01(b).
A “disclaimer” is a statement that applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of a mark. TMEP§1213. A disclaimer does not affect the appearance of the applied-for mark. See TMEP§1213.10.
The following cases further explain the disclaimer requirement: Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int’l Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 21 USPQ2d 1047 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In re Kraft, Inc., 218 USPQ 571 (TTAB 1983).
SEARCH AND EXAMINATION
RESPONSE GUIDELINES AND OTHER INFORMATION
There is no required format or form for responding to an Office action. The Office recommends applicants use the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) to respond to Office actions online at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html. However, if applicant responds on paper via regular mail, the response should include the title “Response to Office Action” and the following information: (1) the name and law office number of the examining attorney, (2) the serial number and filing date of the application, (3) the mailing date of this Office action, (4) applicant’s name, address, telephone number and e-mail address (if applicable), and (5) the mark. 37 C.F.R. §2.194(b)(1); TMEP §302.03(a).
The response should address each refusal and/or requirement raised in the Office action. If a refusal has issued, applicant can argue against the refusal; i.e., applicant can submit arguments and evidence as to why the refusal should be withdrawn and the mark should register. To respond to requirements, applicant should set forth in writing the required changes or statements and request that the Office enter them into the application record.
The response must be personally signed or the electronic signature manually entered by applicant or someone with legal authority to bind applicant (i.e., a corporate officer of a corporate applicant, the equivalent of an officer for unincorporated organizations or limited liability company applicants, a general partner of a partnership applicant, each applicant for applications with multiple individual applicants). TMEP §§605.02, 712.
To expedite prosecution of this application, applicant is encouraged to file its response to this Office action online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), which is available at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html. If you experience difficulty using the response to Office action form, please read or re-read the helpful ELECTRONIC FILING TIPS at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eFilingTips.htm and TEAS RESPONSE TO OFFICE ACTION (ROA) TIPS at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASimportantnotice.htm#ROATips. If you still experience difficulty, please email your questions to Teas@uspto.gov and include your telephone number.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to a current and accurate address for correspondence for this application. If the address for correspondence changes, the Office must be promptly notified in a written communication that is both signed and dated. In order to change the correspondence address for an application, an applicant or the attorney of record must submit a written request. TMEP §603.02(a). Applicants may file requests to change the correspondence address electronically at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html. The transmittal of a response to an Office action bearing a new address for an applicant or an applicant’s attorney is not sufficient to effect a change in the correspondence address.
/Mary Rossman/, Trademark Attorney
Law Office 109
Phone: 571 272 9213
Fax (for official responses ONLY): 571 273 9109
RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: Applicant should file a response to this Office action online using the form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm, waiting 48-72 hours if applicant received notification of the Office action via e-mail. For technical assistance with the form, please e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned examining attorney. Do not respond to this Office action by e-mail; 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.