Offc Action Outgoing

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, WE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF OUR MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE. 

 

 

Serial Number  78/457742

 

SEARCH RESULTS

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. Section 1052(d).  TMEP section 1105.01.

 

STATE OF INCORPORATION

Applicant must change the “Applicant’s Name” and “Applicant’s Entity Type” sections of the application to the following, if accurate:  South USA Motors Company, a limited liability corporation organized under the laws of (and indicate the state under whose laws the limited liability corporation is organized.”  TMEP §803.03(h).

 

STANDARD CHARACTER CLAIM

Applicant must delete the standard character drawing claim from the application because the drawing of the mark contains stylization, a slight design element and the application seems to indicate that the applicant is seeking to claim color.  The drawing of the mark will be processed as a special form drawing, pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §2.52(b).  Exam Guide 01-03, section I.A.3, 5 and 6.

 

DRAWING AND COLOR CLAIM

The applicant seems to be claiming color, but has not actually indicated the colors being claimed or indicated where the colors appear in the mark.  The applicant has also not submitted a color drawing.  If the applicant is claiming color, the applicant must submit a drawing which shows the mark in color and must submit appropriate color statements.  If the applicant is not claiming color the applicant must submit a new drawing which is only in black and white and does not contain any color, including gray, and must delete the color claim statements.

 

The requirements for a special-form drawing are as follows:

 

·        The drawing must appear in black and white if color is not claimed as a feature of the mark, or in color if color is claimed as a feature of the mark.

 

·        Drawings must be typed or made with a pen or by a process that will provide high definition when copied.  A photolithographic, printer’s proof copy, or other high quality reproduction of the mark may be used.  All lines must be clean, sharp and solid, and must not be fine or crowded.

 

·        The image must be no larger than 3.15 inches (8 cm) high by 3.15 inches (8cm) wide.

 

·        If reduction of the mark to the required size renders any details illegible, then applicant may insert a statement in the application to describe the mark and these details.

 

37 C.F.R. §§2.52(b); See TMEP §§807.01(b) and 807.07(a).

 

If submitted on paper, the Office prefers that the drawing be depicted on a separate sheet of non-shiny, white paper that is 8 to 8.5 inches wide and 11 to 11.69 inches long (20.3 to 21.6 cm. wide and 27.9 to 29.7 cm. long).  One of the shorter sides of the sheet should be regarded as its top edge. In addition, the drawing should include the caption “DRAWING PAGE” at the top of the drawing beginning one-inch (2.5 cm) from the top edge.  37 C.F.R. §2.54.

 

The Office strictly enforces these drawing requirements.

 

To submit a special form drawing electronically, applicant must attach a digitized image of the mark to the submission.  The digitized image must be in .jpg format, formatted at no less than 300 dots per inch and no more than 350 dots per inch.  The Office recommends that the digitized image of the mark have a length and width of no smaller than 250 pixels and no larger than 944 pixels.  37 C.F.R. §2.53(c); 69 Fed. Reg. 59,809.  All lines in the image must be clean, sharp and solid, and not fine or crowded, and produce a high quality image when copied. 

 

If the applicant submits a color drawing and seeks to claim color as a feature of the mark, the applicant must submit the following:  (1) a statement that “the color(s) <specify> <is/are> claimed as a feature of the mark;” and (2) a separate description of where the colors appear in the mark, i.e., “the color(s) <name of color(s)> appear in <specify portion of the mark on which color(s) appear>.”  37 C.F.R. §2.52(b)(1).  Common color names should be used to describe the colors in the mark, e.g., red, yellow, blue.  Exam Guide 01-03, section I.B.1.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

The applicant must clarify the identification of goods by amending “atv” to “all-terrain vehicles.”  TMEP §1402.01.

 

The applicant must indicate the type of “scooters,” e.g., “motorized scooters” in Class 12, “toy scooters” in Class 28.

 

The applicant must indicate the “vehicles” by their common commercial names, e.g., trucks, automobiles.

 

The applicant must indicate the use of the fuel tanks.  The applicant may adopt the following identification of goods, if accurate:  fuel tanks for land vehicles.

 

The applicant must clarify the wording “handguards” by indicating a more specific use.  The applicant may adopt the following identification of goods, if accurate:  Motorcycle parts, namely, handguards for motorcycle handlebars.

 

“Motorcycles and engines for motorcycles” are acceptable in Class 12.

 

Please note that, while an application may be amended to clarify or limit the identification, additions to the identification are not permitted.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.71(a); TMEP section 804.09.  Therefore, the applicant may not amend to include any goods/services that are not within the scope of the goods/services recited in the present identification.

 

The application identifies goods/services that may be classified in several international classes.  Therefore, the applicant must either:  (1) restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fee already paid, or (2) pay the required fee for each additional class.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.86(a)(2); TMEP sections 810.01 and 1113.01. 

 

The fee for filing a trademark application is $335 for each class.  37 C.F.R. Section 2.6(a)(1). 

 

If the applicant prosecutes this application as a combined, or multiple‑class, application, the applicant must comply with each of the following:

 

(1)  The applicant must specifically identify the goods/services in each class and list the goods/services by international class with the classes listed in ascending numerical order.  TMEP section 1113.01.

 

(2)  The applicant must submit a filing fee for each international class of goods/services not covered by the fee already paid.  37 C.F.R. Sections 2.6(a)(1) and 2.86(b); TMEP sections 810.01 and 1113.01.  The fee for filing a trademark application is $335 for each class.

 

(3)  The applicant must submit: 

 

(a) dates of first use and first use in commerce and one specimen for each class that includes goods or services based on use in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(a).  The dates of use must be at least as early as the filing date of this application.  37 C.F.R. Sections 2.34(a)(1) and 2.86(a), and the specimen(s) must have been in use in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application, and/or

 

(b) a statement of a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce on or in connection with all the goods or services specified in each class that includes goods or services based on a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce under Trademark Act Section 1(b).

 

(4)  The applicant must submit an affidavit or a declaration under 37 C.F.R. Section 2.20 signed by the applicant to verify (3) above.  37 C.F.R. Sections 2.59(a) and 2.71(c).

 

RESPONSE GUIDELINES

No set form is required for response to this Office action.  The applicant must respond to each point raised.  The applicant should simply set forth the required changes or statements and request that the Office enter them.  The applicant must sign the response.  In addition to the identifying information required at the beginning of this letter, the applicant should provide a telephone number to speed up further processing.

 

The applicant may wish to hire a trademark attorney because of the technicalities involved in the application.  The Patent and Trademark Office cannot aid in the selection of an attorney.

 

In all correspondence to the Patent and Trademark Office, the applicant should list the name and law office of the examining attorney, the serial number of this application, the mailing date of this Office action, and the applicant's telephone number.

 

The following authorities govern the processing of trademark and service mark applications:  The Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 1051 et seq., the Trademark Rules of Practice, 37 C.F.R. Part 2, and the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP).

 

"TMEP" refers to the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (3^rd ed., January 2002), available by subscription from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954.  The stock number is 903‑010‑00000‑2.  The price is $51.00 ($63.75 for foreign mailing).  Orders may also be placed, using MASTERCARD® or VISA®, by calling (202) 512-1800.

 

In addition, the CD-ROM version of the TMEP may be ordered from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Office of Electronic Information Products, Crystal Park 3, Suite 441, Washington, D.C.  20231 (703) 306-2600.  The TMEP is also available on the Patent and Trademark Office's home page at www.uspto.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE:  FEE CHANGE   

 

Effective January 31, 2005 and pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, Pub. L. 108-447, the following are the fees that will be charged for filing a trademark application:

 

(1) $325 per international class if filed electronically using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS); or 

 

(2)   $375 per international class if filed on paper

 

These fees will be charged not only when a new application is filed, but also when payments are made to add classes to an existing application. If such payments are submitted with a TEAS response, the fee will be  $325 per class, and if such payments are made with a paper response, the fee will be $375 per class.

 

The new fee requirements will apply to any fees filed on or after January 31, 2005.

 

NOTICE:  TRADEMARK OPERATION RELOCATION

 

The Trademark Operation has relocated to Alexandria, Virginia.  Effective October 4, 2004, all Trademark-related paper mail (except documents sent to the Assignment Services Division for recordation, certain documents filed under the Madrid Protocol, and requests for copies of trademark documents) must be sent to:

 

Commissioner for Trademarks

P.O. Box 1451

Alexandria, VA  22313-1451

 

Applicants, attorneys and other Trademark customers are strongly encouraged to correspond with the USPTO online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html.

 

 

/Kelley L. Wells/

Kelley L. Wells

Trademark Attorney

Law Office 105

571-272-9312

 

 

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS OFFICE ACTION:

• ONLINE RESPONSE:  You may respond formally using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office Action form (visit http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html and follow the instructions, but if the Office Action issued via email you must wait 72 hours after receipt of the Office Action to respond via TEAS).
• REGULAR MAIL RESPONSE:  To respond by regular mail, your response should be sent to the mailing return address above and include the serial number, law office number and examining attorney’s name in your response.

 

STATUS OF APPLICATION: To check the status of your application, visit the Office’s Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.

 

VIEW APPLICATION DOCUMENTS ONLINE: Documents in the electronic file for pending applications can be viewed and downloaded online at http://portal.gov.uspto.report/external/portal/tow.

 

GENERAL TRADEMARK INFORMATION: For general information about trademarks, please visit the Office’s website at http://www.gov.uspto.report/main/trademarks.htm

 

FOR INQUIRIES OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OFFICE ACTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ASSIGNED EXAMINING ATTORNEY SPECIFIED ABOVE.