UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
SERIAL NO: 76/700419
MARK: PEEK-A-BOO BABY
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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: Toot Sweet Toys, Inc
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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.
SECTION 2(d) REFUSAL – LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION
Comparing the Marks
The applicant’s mark is PEEK-A-BOO BABY and the registered marks are (1) PEEK-A-BOO PILLOWS (Registration No. 2821276), and (2) PEEK-A BOO BABY with a design (Registration No. 2978106). The marks of the parties are similar in appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression, because they all share the terms “PEEK-A-BOO.” Additionally, the applicant’s mark is identical to the literal portion of the mark for Registration No. 2978106. Therefore, the similarities in the elements that exist are sufficient to find likelihood of confusion.
Comparison of the Goods
The applicant’s goods are “children’s books, pre-recorded CDs and DVDs featuring children’s stories and music, crib bumpers, bedding, pillows” and the registrants’ goods are (1) “Pillows with cavities which have stuffed animals, toys or dolls stuffed inside the cavity; The cavities are covered with flaps or doors which open and close for peekaboo fun time” for Registration No. 2821276, and (2) “Prerecorded video tapes, and digital video discs containing live and animated action with sound intended to entertain infants and children” for Registration No. 2978106. The goods are related because the applicant offers goods identical to those of the registrants. Further the goods are likely to travel in the same channels of trade. The conditions surrounding the marketing of the goods may be such that they could be encountered by the same purchasers under circumstances that could give rise to the mistaken belief that the goods come from a common source.
Prior Pending Application
If applicant believes there is no potential conflict between this application and the earlier-filed application, then applicant may present arguments relevant to the issue in a response to this Office action. The election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicant’s right to address this issue at a later point.
Identification of Goods
The wording in the identification of goods must be clarified because it is too broad and could include goods in other international classes. See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03. Specifically, the identification of goods includes goods classified in International Classes 9, 16, 20, and 24.
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.
Applicant may adopt the following identification of goods, if accurate:
International Class 9: Pre-recorded CDs and DVDs featuring children’s stories and music; and/or
International Class 16: Children’s books; and/or
International Class 20: Pillows; and/or
International Class 24: Bedding, namely, bed blankets and bed sheets; Crib bumpers.
See TMEP §1402.01.
Requirements for Multiple-Class Application
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).
(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 15 U.S.C. §§1051(b), 1112, 1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(2)-(3), 2.86(a); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).
Disclaimer
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).
No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “BABY” apart from the mark as shown.
TMEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).
Standard Character Claim
Applicant must submit the following standard character claim: “The mark consists of standard characters without claim to any particular font style, size, or color.” See 37 C.F.R. §2.52(a); TMEP §807.03(a).
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.
The Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) database on the USPTO website at http://tarr.uspto.gov provides detailed, up to the minute information about the status and prosecution history of trademark/service mark applications and registrations. To access the TARR database, applicant will need to provide an application serial number or registration number. The TARR database is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
/Michael J. Souders/
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 115
(571) 272-9483
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.