Offc Action Outgoing

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

RESPONSE TIME LIMIT:  TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE MAILING OR E-MAILING DATE. 

 

 

Serial Number  78/524777

 

Response

 

This letter responds to applicant’s communication filed on July 8, 2005.  PLEASE NOTE:  Application Serial No. 7900743, previously referred to in the initial office action, remains a pending mark.

 

 

Material Alteration

 

The proposed amendment of the drawing is unacceptable because it would materially alter the essence or character of the mark.  37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §§807.14 et seq.  See In re Who? Vision Systems, Inc., 57 USPQ2d 1211 (TTAB 2000) (amendment from TACILESENSE to TACTILESENSE found to be material alteration); In re CTB Inc., 52 USPQ2d 1471 (TTAB 1999) (proposed amendment of “TURBO AND DESIGN” to typed word “TURBO” is material alteration); In re Meditech International Corp., 25 USPQ2d 1159, 1160 (TTAB 1990) (“[a] drawing consisting of a single blue star, as well as a drawing consisting of a number of blue stars, would both be considered material alterations vis-à-vis a drawing consisting of the typed words ‘DESIGN OF BLUE STAR’”); In re Wine Society of America Inc., 12 USPQ2d 1139 (TTAB 1989) (proposed amendment to replace typed drawing of “THE WINE SOCIETY OF AMERICA” with a special form drawing including those words with a crown design and a banner design bearing the words “IN VINO VERITAS” held to be a material alteration); In re Nationwide Industries Inc., 6 USPQ2d 1882 (TTAB 1988) (addition of house mark “SNAP” to product mark “RUST BUSTER” held a material alteration).

 

The mark in a drawing cannot be amended if the change would materially alter the mark.  TMEP §807.14.  The Office determines whether a proposed amendment materially alters a mark by comparing the proposed amendment with the drawing of the mark filed with the original application.  37 C.F.R. §2.72; TMEP §807.14(c).

 

If republication of the amended mark would be necessary in order to provide proper notice to third parties for opposition purposes, then the mark has been materially altered and the amendment is not permitted.  In re Who? Vision Systems Inc., 57 USPQ2d 1211, 1218 (TTAB 2000).  “The modified mark must contain the essence of the original mark, and the new form must create the impression of being essentially the same mark.”  Visa International Service Association v. Life Code Systems, Inc., 220 USPQ 740, 743 (TTAB 1983).  “That is, the new and old forms of the mark must create essentially the same commercial impression.”  In re Nationwide Industries Inc., 6 USPQ2d 1882, 1885 (TTAB 1988).

 

In this case, the amendment materially alters the essence of the mark.  Also, the TM is not part of the mark.  TMEP §§807.02 and 807.14(a).

 

Description of the Mark

 

Applicant’s description of the mark will not be printed on any registration that may issue from this application.  TMEP §808.03.  The description is unnecessary because the mark is composed of easily recognized letters, numerals, designs, or figurative elements.  TMEP §§808.01(a) and 808.01(b). 

 

Distinctiveness Claim  

 

An intent-to-use applicant who has used the mark on related goods or services may file a claim of acquired distinctiveness under Trademark Act Section 2(f) before filing an amendment to allege use or a statement of use if applicant can establish that, as a result of applicant’s use of the mark on other goods or services, the mark has become distinctive of the goods or services in the intent-to-use application, and that this previously created distinctiveness will transfer to the goods and services in the intent-to-use application when use in commerce begins.  In re Dial-A-Mattress Operating Corp., 240 F.3d 1341, 57 USPQ2d 1807, 1812 (Fed. Cir. 2001); TMEP §1212.09(a).  The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has set forth the requirements for showing that a mark in an intent-to-use application has acquired distinctiveness:

 

(1)    Applicant must establish that the same mark has acquired distinctiveness as to the other goods and/or services, by submitting evidence such as ownership of a prior registration for the same mark for related goods and/or services, a prima facie showing of acquired distinctiveness based on five years’ use of the same mark with related goods and/or services, or actual evidence of acquired distinctiveness for the same mark with respect to the other goods and/or services; and

 

(2)    Applicant must submit evidence to establish a sufficient relationship between the goods and/or services in connection with which the mark has acquired distinctiveness and the goods and/or services recited in the intent-to-use application to warrant the conclusion that the previously created distinctiveness will transfer to the goods and/or services in the application upon use.

 

In re Rogers, 53 USPQ2d 1741 (TTAB 1999).

 

In this case, it seems applicant 2(f) statement is not appropriate and the examining attorney suggest that the applicant delete it. 

 

 

 

 

 

/Howard Friedman/

Attorney Advisor

Law Office 106

(571) 272-9319

(571) 273-9106 (Fax)

 

 

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 has been 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.