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(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.

NO CONFLICTING MARKS:

The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).

ORNAMENTAL REFUSAL FOR INTERNATIONAL CLASSES 16 AND 25:

Registration is refused because the applied-for mark, as used on the specimen of record, is merely a decorative or ornamental feature of the goods; it does not function as a trademark to identify and distinguish applicant’s goods from those of others and to indicate the source of applicant’s goods. Trademark Act Sections 1, 2 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051-1052, 1127; see TMEP §§904.07(b), 1202.03 et seq.; see, e.g., In re Pro-Line Corp., 28 USPQ2d 1141 (TTAB 1993) (holding the wording BLACKER THE COLLEGE SWEETER THE KNOWLEDGE to be a primarily ornamental slogan that is not likely to be perceived as source indicator for t-shirts); In re Villeroy & Boch S.A.R.L., 5 USPQ2d 1451 (TTAB 1987) (holding floral pattern design of morning glories and leaves for tableware nondistinctive and merely a decorative pattern with no trademark significance); cf. In re Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp., 774 F.2d 1116, 227 USPQ 417 (Fed. Cir. 1985).

The applied-for mark, as shown on the specimens for International Classes 16 and 25, is merely ornamental because the proposed mark as displayed on the goods is very large and covers a large surface area of the goods. As such, based on this usage, the proposed mark would not be perceived by the public as being a source indicator.

When evaluating a mark that appears to be ornamental, “the size, location, dominance and significance of the alleged mark as applied to the goods” are all relevant factors in determining whether it is inherently distinctive. E.g., In re Pro-Line Corp., 28 USPQ2d 1141, 1142 (TTAB 1993); In re Dimitri’s Inc., 9 USPQ2d 1666, 1667 (TTAB 1988); In re Astro-Gods Inc., 223 USPQ 621, 623 (TTAB 1984); TMEP §1202.03(a).

Although there is no prescribed method or place for affixation of a mark to goods, the location of a mark on the goods “is part of the environment in which the [mark] is perceived by the public and . . . may influence how the [mark] is perceived.” In re Tilcon Warren Inc., 221 USPQ 86, 88 (TTAB 1984); see In re Paramount Pictures Corp., 213 USPQ 1111, 1115 (TTAB 1982). Thus, where consumers have been conditioned to recognize trademarks in a certain location, as on the breast area of a shirt, ornamental matter placed in a different location is less likely to be perceived as an indicator of source. See TMEP §1202.03(a), (b).

Applicant may respond to the stated ornamental refusal by satisfying one of the following, as appropriate:

(1) Claiming acquired distinctiveness under Trademark Act Section 2(f) by submitting evidence that the applied-for mark has become distinctive of applicant’s goods in commerce. Trademark Act Section 2(f), 15 U.S.C. §1052(f). Evidence may consist of examples of advertising and promotional materials that specifically promote, as a trademark, the mark for which registration is sought; dollar figures for advertising devoted to such promotion; dealer and consumer statements of recognition of the applied-for mark as a trademark; and any other evidence that establishes recognition of the applied-for mark as a trademark for the goods. See 37 C.F.R. §2.41(a); TMEP §§1202.03(d), 1212.06 et seq.;

(2) Submitting evidence that the applied-for mark is an indicator of secondary source or sponsorship for the identified goods. Univ. Book Store v. Univ. of Wis. Bd. of Regents,33 USPQ2d 1385, 1405 (TTAB 1994); In re Olin Corp., 181 USPQ 182, 182 (TTAB 1973). That is, applicant may submit evidence showing that the applied-for mark would be recognized as a trademark through applicant’s use of the mark with goods and/or services other than those being refused as ornamental. In re The Original Red Plate Co., 223 USPQ 836, 837 (TTAB 1984). Applicant must establish that, as a result of this use in connection with other goods and/or services, the public would recognize applicant as the secondary source of, or sponsor for, the identified goods. See TMEP §1202.03(c).;

(3) Amending the application to seek registration on the Supplemental Register. Trademark Act Section 23, 15 U.S.C. §1091; see 37 C.F.R. §§2.47, 2.75(a); TMEP §§801.02(b), 816.; or

(4) Submitting a substitute specimen that shows non-ornamental trademark use, and 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; see 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1). If submitting a substitute specimen requires amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c); TMEP §904.05.

If applicant cannot satisfy one of the above, applicant may amend the application from a use in commerce basis under Trademark Act Section 1(a) to an intent to use basis under Section 1(b), and the refusal will be withdrawn. See TMEP §806.03(c). However, if applicant amends the basis to Section 1(b), registration will not be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen. See 15 U.S.C. §1051(c), (d); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP §1103. If the same specimen is submitted with an allegation of use, the same refusal will issue.

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.” 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(2); TMEP §806.01(b); see 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.35(b)(1), 2.193(e)(1).

RESPONSE:

Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration. If the applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the applicant must also respond to the following issues.

SPECIMEN FAILS TO SHOW USE OF THE MARK IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICES IN INTERNATIONAL CLASS 41:

The specimen is not acceptable because it does not show the applied-for mark used in connection with the educational and/or entertainment services specified in the application. An application based on Trademark Act Section 1(a) 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 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).

In this case, the specimen, an athlete’s handbook, is not acceptable as evidence of actual service mark use because it fails to show use of the mark in the sale or advertising of the educational and/or entertainment services. Thus, it fails to show proper use of the applied-for mark in the sale or advertising of the services, namely, educational services, namely, providing college and graduate level courses of instruction, continuing education courses and seminars and opportunities for students to participate in educational research programs, and entertainment services, namely, providing college athletic and sporting events and live performances of dramatic works and live musical performances.

Therefore, applicant must submit the following:

(1) A substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for each class of goods and/or services specified in the application; 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 at least as early as the filing date of the application.” 37 C.F.R. §2.59(a); TMEP §904.05; see 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(1). If submitting a substitute specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c); TMEP §904.05.

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.

If applicant cannot satisfy the above requirements, applicant may amend the application from a use in commerce basis under Section 1(a) to an intent to use basis under Section 1(b), for which no specimen is required. See TMEP §806.03(c). However, if applicant amends the basis to Section 1(b), registration will not be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen. See 15 U.S.C. §1051(c), (d); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP §1103.

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 and/or services listed in the application as of the filing date of the application.” 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(2); TMEP §806.01(b); see 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.35(b)(1), 2.193(e)(1).

Pending receipt of a proper response, registration is refused because the specimen does not show the applied-for mark in use in commerce as a trademark and/or service mark for the identified goods and/or services. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv), 2.56(a); TMEP §§904, 904.07(a).

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS AND CLASSIFICATION:

The identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified. See TMEP §1402.01. Applicant must specify the common commercial or generic name for the goods. If there is no common commercial or generic name, applicant must describe the product and intended consumer as well as its main purpose and intended uses.

Applicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate:

Print materials, namely, magazines, pamphlets and brochures in the field of research, education and athletics, bumper stickers, pens, pen sets, pencils, erasers, pencil toppers, namely, decorative pencil-top ornaments, loose leaf binders, bookmarks, book covers, photographic albums, appointment books, art photographs, namely, _____ (the applicant must specify the items, for instance, photographs that have been computer manipulated and enhanced to look like paintings), address books, paper banners, clip boards, magnetic boards, notepads, note pad holders, scrapbooks, catalogs in the field of _____ (the applicant must specify the field, for instance, clothes), newsletters in the field of ______ (the applicant must specify the field, for instance, financial aid for students), notebooks, composition books, picture books, stationery-type portfolios, paper gift wrap, calendars, blank cards, gift cards, greeting cards, business cards, writing paper and note paper, postcards, decals, paper labels, bank checks, checkbook covers, rubber stamps, books in the field of research, education and athletics, binders, lithographs and prints, prepaid telephone calling cards, not magnetically encoded, credit cards without magnetic encoding, transferable temporary tattoos, stickers, posters, party goods, namely, paper party favors, paper napkins, and paper party decorations, desk accessories, namely, baskets, desk pads, file trays, desk organizers, desk planners, desktop revolving rotary card flies and desk calendars, printed paper labels for bottled water, in International Class 16.

Bulletin boards, in International Class 20.

Identifications of goods can be amended only to clarify or limit the goods; adding to or broadening the scope of the goods 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 that are not within the scope of the goods set forth in the present identification.

Proper classification of goods and services is a purely administrative matter within the sole discretion of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In re Tee-Pak, Inc., 164 USPQ 88, 89 (TTAB 1969).

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.

IDENTIFICATION OF SERVICES:

The identification of services is indefinite and must be clarified. See TMEP §1402.01. Applicant must specify the nature of the services as well as their main purpose and their field of use or channels of trade.

Applicant may adopt the following identification, if accurate:

Educational services, namely, providing college and graduate level courses of instruction, continuing education courses and seminars in the _____(the applicant must specify the field, for instance, medical field, legal field), and opportunities for students to participate in educational research programs, and entertainment services, namely, arranging, organizing and providing college athletic and sporting events in the field of _____ (the applicant must specify the field, for instance, football) and live performances of dramatic works and live musical performances, in International Class 41.

Identifications of services can be amended only to clarify or limit the services; adding to or broadening the scope of the 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 services that are not within the scope of the services set forth in the present identification.

REQUIREMENTS OF A COMBINED APPLICATION:

If applicant prosecutes this application as a combined, or multiple-class application, then applicant must comply with each of the requirements below for those goods and/or services based on actual use in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(a):

(1) Applicant must list the goods/services by international class;

(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); and

(3) For each additional international class of goods and/or services, applicant must submit:

(a) Dates of first use of the mark anywhere and dates of first use of the mark in commerce, or a statement that the dates of use in the initial application apply to that class. The dates of use, both anywhere and in commerce, must be at least as early as the filing date of the application.;

(b) One specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for each class of goods and/or services. The specimen must have been in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application. If a single specimen supports multiple classes, applicant should indicate which classes the specimen supports rather than providing multiple copies of the same specimen. 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.;

(c) The following statement: “The specimen was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the application at least as early as the filing date of the application.”; and

(d) Verification of the statements in 3(a) and 3(c) (above) in an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20. Verification is not required where (1) the dates of use for the added class are stated to be the same as the dates of use specified in the initial application, and (2) the original specimens are acceptable for the added class(es).

See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1112, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(5), 2.34(a)(1), 2.56(a), 2.71(c), 2.86(a), 2.193(e)(1); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).

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, 1403.02(c).

CITIZENSHIP:

In this instance, the applicant’s citizenship is based on where the applicant was organized or incorporated. In this case, the applicant, The University of Houston System, is a nonprofit educational institution, organized under the law of the State of Texas. Accordingly, the applicant’s place of citizenship is Texas.

CLAIM OF OWNERSHIP OF PRIOR REGISTRATIONS:

The applicant’s statement regarding related trademark registrations and applications is not acceptable. The applicant must provide the required statement.

If applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 3717202 and 3717201, then applicant must submit a claim of ownership. See 37 C.F.R. §2.36; TMEP §812. The following standard format is suggested:

Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 3717202 and 3717201.

If applicant has questions about its application or this Office action, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney at the telephone number below.

/Marlene D. Bell/

Marlene D. Bell

Law Office 105

Trademark Examiner

(571) 272-9291

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.