To: | Diamond Hong, Inc. (kennethcli@hotmail.com) |
Subject: | TRADEMARK REGISTRATION NO. 3966518 - TAI CHI - DH-086-08 |
Sent: | 08/14/17 02:59:41 PM |
Sent As: | PRG@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT OWNER’S TRADEMARK REGISTRATION
U.S. REGISTRATION NO. 3966518
OWNER: Diamond Hong, Inc.
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CORRESPONDENT’S ADDRESS: |
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MARK: TAI CHI
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO. DH-086-08
CORRESPONDENT’S EMAIL ADDRESS: |
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CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER AND SELECT FORM NUMBER 11:
http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/reg_maintain.jsp
ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 8/14/2017
U.S. Registration Number 3966518
The Sections 8 & 15 Combined Affidavit was received on April 17, 2017. The Section 15 portion of the Combined Affidavit can be acknowledged. However, the Section 8 portion is not accepted for the reason(s) set forth below.
ISSUES PERTAINING TO SECTION 8 PORTION ONLY
The specimens submitted for Classes 5, 30 and 33 are acceptable. However, the Section 8 Affidavit of record does not include a specimen for Classes 3 and 29, which is required for a Section 8 Affidavit based on continued use. 15 U.S.C. §1058(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.161(g); TMEP §1604.12(a).
Therefore, the owner must submit the following:
(1) A specimen showing current use of the registered mark in commerce for each class of goods and/or services specified in the registration; and
(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 during the relevant period for filing the 6-year Section 8.” 37 C.F.R. §2.161(g); TMEP §1604.12(c).
Examples of specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, or displays associated with the actual goods at their point of sale. See TMEP §§904.03 et seq. Examples of specimens for services are signs, photographs, brochures, website printouts or advertisements that show the mark used in the actual sale or advertising of the services. See TMEP §§1301.04 et seq.
II. SAMPLE STATEMENT AND DECLARATION UNDER 37 C.F.R. §2.20
The following statement and declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20 can be used to verify the Section 8 Affidavit, if properly signed and dated:
The owner was using the mark in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services identified in the registration for which use of the mark in commerce is claimed, as evidenced by the submitted specimen, during the relevant period for filing the 6-year Section 8.
The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statement may jeopardize the validity of this document, declares that s/he is properly authorized to execute this document on behalf of the owner, and all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true and that all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.
__________________________
Signature of Authorized Person
__________________________
Type or Print Name
__________________________
Date
The following persons are properly authorized to sign a Section 8 Affidavit on behalf of the owner:
(1) A person with legal authority to bind the owner (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner);
(2) A person with firsthand knowledge of the facts and actual or implied authority to act on behalf of the owner; or
(3) An authorized attorney who has an actual written or verbal power of attorney or an implied power of attorney from the owner.
37 C.F.R. §§2.161(b), 2.193(e)(1); TMEP §1604.08(a).
III. ADVISORY - PERSONS WHO CAN SIGN RESPONSES
Responses to Office actions must be properly signed. 37 C.F.R. §§2.163(b), 2.193(e)(2); TMEP §611.03(b). When an owner is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(i); TMEP §611.03(b). The only attorneys who may sign responses and otherwise practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are (1) attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other federal territories and possessions of the United States; and (2) Canadian agents/attorneys who represent owners located in Canada and (a) are registered with the USPTO and in good standing as patent agents or (b) have been granted reciprocal recognition by the USPTO. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 11.1, 11.5(b)(2), 11.14(a), (c); TMEP §602. Attorneys who fail to meet these requirements, as well as non-attorneys, are generally not permitted to represent owners in trademark matters before the USPTO; and thus, they may not sign responses. See 5 U.S.C. §500(b), (d); 37 C.F.R. §11.14(a)-(c), (e); TMEP §§602, 602.02, 608.01.
Where an owner is represented by an attorney, and then later retains a different attorney from a different firm, the newly retained attorney may not sign responses until the owner files a new power and/or revocation of attorney. See 37 C.F.R. §2.18(a)(7); TMEP §604.03.
Where an owner is not represented by an attorney, the response must be signed by the individual owner or someone with legal authority to bind a juristic owner (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner). See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii); TMEP §§611.03(b), 611.06 et seq. In the case of joint owners, all must sign. 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii); TMEP §611.06(a).
A complete response must be received within 6 months from the issuance date of this Office action. The owner must respond to all inquiries set forth in this Office action to avoid cancellation of Classes 3 and 29. 37 C.F.R. §2.163(b)-(c); TMEP §1604.16.
V. DEFICIENCY SURCHARGE REQUIRED
The owner must submit a $100 deficiency surcharge with its response to this Office action if the response is submitted online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (“TEAS”). A $200 deficiency surcharge must be submitted if the response is submitted on paper. 37 C.F.R. §§2.6, 2.164(a)(1); TMEP §1604.17(a).
Please call the undersigned with any questions.
/Tracy Welch/
Tracy Welch
Paralegal Specialist
OFC OF TM SVC
ITU/Divisional Unit
571-272-9631
571-273-9631 fx
tracy.welch@uspto.gov
TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Use the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Post-Registration Office action form number 11 at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/reg_maintain.jsp. Please wait 48-72 hours from the issue/mailing date before using TEAS, to allow for necessary system updates of the registration. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned specialist. E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to this Office action by e-mail.
All informal e-mail communications relevant to this registration will be placed in the official registration record.
WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE: It must be personally signed by an individual owner or someone with legal authority to bind an owner (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint owners). If an owner is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response.
TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS: Use the TEAS form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.