Suspension Letter

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

 

 

SUSPENSION NOTICE:  NO RESPONSE NEEDED

 

ISSUE/MAILING DATE:

 

 

This Office action is in response to applicant’s communication filed on March 31, 2011.

 

The trademark examining attorney is suspending action on the application for the reason(s) stated below.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.67; TMEP §§716 et seq. 

 

The USPTO will periodically conduct a status check of the application to determine whether suspension remains appropriate, and the trademark examining attorney will issue as needed an inquiry letter to applicant regarding the status of the matter on which suspension is based.  TMEP §§716.04, 716.05.  Applicant will be notified when suspension is no longer appropriate.  See TMEP §716.04.

 

No response to this notice is necessary; however, if applicant wants to respond, applicant should use the “Response to Suspension Inquiry or Letter of Suspension” form online at http://teasroa.gov.uspto.report/rsi/rsi.

 

Action on this application is suspended pending receipt of a true copy, a photocopy, a certification, or a certified copy of a foreign registration from applicant's country of origin.  If the registration is in a foreign language, an English translation must also be submitted.  15 U.S.C. §1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(3)(ii); TMEP §§716.02(b), 1004 et seq.  Please note that applicant must notify the examining attorney if the foreign application abandons.

 

Requirement for Disclaimer of Water Maintained and Continued

 

Applicant must disclaim the descriptive wording “WATER” apart from the mark as shown because it merely describes a feature of applicant’s goods.  See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(e)(1), 1056(a); 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 §§1213, 1213.03(a). 

 

Applicant’s goods are “humidifiers; flow through humidifiers; water recirculating humidifiers; humidifiers for forced air heating systems; humidifiers for forced air cooling systems; humidifiers for forced air heating and cooling systems; humidifiers for residential use; whole house humidifiers; and central system humidifiers.”  The attached definition shows that a humidifier is a machine that makes the air less dry.  The attached article about humidifiers shows that these goods use water in order to make the air less dry.  Therefore, the term “water” immediately describes an important feature of applicant’s goods and must be disclaimed.

 

The following is the standard format used by the Office:

 

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “WATER” apart from the mark as shown.

 

TMEP §1213.08(a)(i); see In re Owatonna Tool Co., 231 USPQ 493 (Comm’r Pats. 1983).

 

 

 

/Debra Lee/

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 116

Voice:  571-272-5897

Informal Inquiries Only:   debra.lee@uspto.gov

 

 

PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION:  To ensure that applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official notices, check the status of the application every three to four months using Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) at http://tarr.gov.uspto.report/.  Please keep a copy of the complete TARR screen.  If TARR shows no change for more than six months, call 1-800-786-9199.  For more information on checking status, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/process/status/.

 

TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS:  Use the TEAS form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageE.htm.