To: | Sharper Image Corporation (trademarks@bellboyd.com) |
Subject: | TRADEMARK APPLICATION NO. 77149524 - GP - 112440-TBD |
Sent: | 7/25/2007 6:40:27 PM |
Sent As: | ECOM106@USPTO.GOV |
Attachments: |
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
SERIAL NO: 77/149524
MARK: GP
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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: Sharper Image Corporation
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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.
ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 7/25/2007
The assigned trademark examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and has determined the following:
Search Results
The Office records have been searched and no similar registered or pending mark has been found that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.
Identification of Goods
The wording “air cleaners” used to describe the goods needs clarification because it is indefinite. TMEP §1402.01. Applicant must clarify the identification of goods to specify the common commercial or generic name for the goods. If there is no common commercial or generic name, then applicant must describe the product and intended consumer as well as its main purpose and intended uses. TMEP § 1402.01. Applicant may adopt the following identification of goods, if accurate:
Class 011: Air purifiers and air cleaners, namely, an electro-static precipitator for cleaning air and structural parts therefor
Please note that, while the identification of goods and/or services may be amended to clarify or limit the goods and/or services, adding to the goods and/or services or broadening the scope of the goods and/or services is not permitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); TMEP §1402.06. 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.
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.
The specimen is not acceptable to show trademark use in a display associated with the goods because, although identified as a catalog page, it does not show the necessary ordering information. Trademark Act Section 45, 15 U.S.C. §1127; 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(1); TMEP §§904.06(a)-(b).
A printed or web catalog, web page, or similar specimen is acceptable to show trademark use as a display associated with the goods only if it includes (1) a picture of the relevant goods, (2) the mark appearing sufficiently near the picture of the goods so as to associate the mark with the goods, and (3) information necessary to order the goods (e.g., sales form, price list, instructions for ordering, etc.) or a visible weblink to order the goods. Lands’ End, Inc. v. Manbeck, 797 F. Supp. 511, 514, 24 USPQ2d 1314, 1316 (E.D. Va. 1992); In re Dell Inc., 71 USPQ2d 1725, 1727-1729 (TTAB 2004); In re MediaShare Corp., 43 USPQ2d 1304 (TTAB 1997); TMEP §§904.06(a) and (b).
An application based on Section 1(a) must include a specimen showing the applied-for mark in use in commerce for each class of goods. Trademark Act Sections 1 and 45, 15 U.S.C. §§1051 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §2.34(a)(1)(iv). Examples of specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, or photographs that show the mark on the goods or packaging. TMEP §§904.04 et seq.
The specimen appears to be an instruction manual as opposed to a catalog, which was identified by the applicant. Therefore, applicant should note that if the specimen is an instruction manual packaged with the goods, applicant need only submit a corrected statement specifying this information.
Therefore, applicant must submit the following:
(1) A substitute specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for the goods 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 §904.09. If submitting a specimen requires an amendment to the dates of use, applicant must also verify the amended dates. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(c).
If applicant cannot satisfy the above requirements, applicant may amend the Section 1(a) filing basis (use in commerce) to Section 1(b) (intent to use basis), for which no specimen is required. However, should applicant amend the basis to Section 1(b), registration cannot be granted until applicant later amends the application back to use in commerce by filing an acceptable allegation of use with a proper specimen. 15 U.S.C. §1051(c); 37 C.F.R. §§2.76, 2.88; TMEP Chapter 1100.
In order to amend to Section 1(b), applicant must submit the following statement, verified with an affidavit or a 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.” 15 U.S.C. §1051(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(2) and 2.35(b)(1); TMEP §806.03(c).
Pending a proper response, registration is refused because the specimen does not show use of the applied-for mark in commerce as a trademark. 15 U.S.C. §§1051 and 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.34(a)(1)(iv) and 2.56.
Prior Registration
If applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration No. 2703083, then applicant must submit a claim of ownership. 37 C.F.R. §2.36; TMEP §812. The following standard format is suggested:
Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration No. 2703083.
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.
/Dannean J Hetzel/
Trademark Examining Attorney
Law Office 106
Phone 571-272-8858
Fax 571-273-9106
RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: If there are any questions about the Office action, please contact the assigned examining attorney. A response to this Office Action should be filed using the Office’s Response to Office action form available at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm. If notification of this Office action was received via e-mail, no response using this form may be filed for 72 hours after receipt of the notification. Do not attempt to respond by e-mail as 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.