Offc Action Outgoing

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.

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. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.

Insufficient Fee

The application identifies goods and/or services that are classified in at least 2 classes; however, the fees submitted are sufficient for only 1 class(es). In a multiple-class application, a fee for each class is required. 37 C.F.R. §2.86(a)(2); TMEP §§810.01, 1403.01.

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 filing fee for adding classes to an application is as follows:

(1) $325 per class, when the fees are submitted with a response filed online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html; or

(2) $375 per class, when the fees are submitted with a paper response.

37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(i)-(a)(1)(ii); TMEP §810.

Identification of Goods

The identification of goods is unacceptable because some of the goods are indefinite and misclassified. See TMEP §1402.01. Specifically, “wands” must be amended to specify the generic name for the attachments, e.g. “sprayer wands”. Also, “hoses” is misclassified and belongs in Class 17. Applicant must amend the identification to specify the common commercial name of the goods. If there is no common commercial name, applicant must describe the product and its intended uses. See id.

For the applicant’s convenience, the Examining Attorney has highlighted suggested amendments and problem areas in bold type below.

The applicant may adopt the following identifications, if accurate:

“Lawn and gardening watering products, namely, watering hoses,” in International Class 17;

“Lawn and gardening watering products, namely, sprayer wands for watering hoses,” in International Class 21.

Identifications of goods and/or services can be amended only to clarify or limit the goods and/or services; adding to or broadening the scope of the goods and/or services is not permitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07. Therefore, applicant may not amend the identification to include goods and/or services that are not within the scope of the goods and/or services set forth in the present identification.

The applicant is encouraged to consult the PTO’s Acceptable ID Manual, which is available on the Patent and Trademark Office’s home page at http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html. The Manual includes explanations and notices of classification policy. The Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual sets out acceptable language for identifying goods and services of various types. Utilizing identification language from the Manual may enable trademark owners to avoid problems relating to indefiniteness with respect to the goods or services identified in their applications for registration; however, applicants should note that they must assert actual use in commerce or a bona fide intent to use the mark in commerce for the goods or services specified. TMEP Section 1402.04.

Multiple Class Requirements

If applicant prosecutes this application as a combined, or multiple-class application, then applicant must comply with each of the following for those goods and/or services based on an intent to use the mark in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(b)/a foreign registration under Trademark Act Section 44(e)/an intent to use the mark under Trademark Act Section 1(b) and/or a foreign registration under Section 44(e):

(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).

General Response Guidelines

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.

Applicant should include the following information on all correspondence with the Office: (1) the name and law office number of the trademark 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).

Applicant should provide a current telephone number with its response to expedite processing. TMEP §302.03(a).

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 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.

/Kevin M. Dinallo/

Trademark Examining Attorney

United States Patent & Trademark Office

Law Office 107

571-272-9731

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.