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. 

 

MAILING/E-MAILING DATE INFORMATION:  If the mailing or e-mailing date of this Office action does not appear above, this information can be obtained by visiting the USPTO website at http://tarr.gov.uspto.report/, inserting the application serial number, and viewing the prosecution history for the mailing date of the most recently issued Office communication.

 

Serial Number  78/648522

 

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.

 

2(e)(4) - Surname Refusal

Registration is refused because the proposed mark is primarily merely a surname.  Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(4); TMEP §§1211 et seq.  The primary significance of the mark to the purchasing public determines whether a term is primarily merely a surname.  In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 225 USPQ 652, 653 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Kahan & Weisz Jewelry Mfg. Corp., 508 F.2d 831, 184 USPQ 421 (C.C.P.A. 1975).

 

The following five factors are used to determine whether a mark is primarily merely a surname:

 

• the rareness of the surname;
• whether anyone connected with the applicant has the mark as his or her surname;
• whether the term has any recognized meaning other than as a surname;
• whether the mark has the structure and pronunciation of a surname; and
• whether the mark is sufficiently stylized to remove its primary significance from that of a surname.

 

TMEP §1211.01.  See In re Benthin Management GmbH, 37 USPQ2d 1332, 1333-1334 (TTAB 1995); In re Sava Research Corp., 32 USPQ2d 1380 (TTAB 1994) and cases cited therein.

 

Please see the attached evidence from Switchboard.com and the Lexis/Nexis USFIND database, establishing the surname significance of “GREENALL.”  See Exhibit 1 and the Lexis/Nexis evidence attached at the end of this letter.  This evidence shows the first ten (10) listings of the proposed mark that appeared fifty three (53) times as a surname in a nationwide telephone directory of names.  In addition, the term “GREENALL” has the look and feel of a surname, and applicant’s name, Gilbert & John Greenall Limited, indicates that “GREENALL” is the surname of an individual associated with applicant. 

 

Attached is also a copy of a search conducted using the Onelook.com online dictionary search engine, wherein the word “GREENALL” would appear if, indeed, it were a defined term with another meaning.  See Exhibit A.  The absence of the term in this database of dictionaries supports the finding that the term is primarily merely a surname.  TMEP §1211.02(b)(v).

 

Finally, the fact that applicant adds an apostrophe and the letter “s” to the end of the surname “GREENALL” does not alleviate the surname significance of the mark.  Presentation of a surname in its plural or possessive form does not diminish its surname significance.  See In re Woolley’s Petite Suites, 18 USPQ2d 1810, 1812 (TTAB 1991) (WOOLLEY’S); In re Luis Caballero, S.A., 223 USPQ 355 (TTAB 1984) (BURDONS).

 

Although the trademark examining attorney has refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.

 

Advisory:  Acquired Distinctiveness Under Section 2(f)

The record indicates that applicant has used its mark for a long time; therefore, applicant may seek registration on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f), 15 U.S.C. §1052(f), based on acquired distinctiveness.  To amend the application to Section 2(f) based on five years use, applicant should submit the following written statement claiming acquired distinctiveness, if accurate:

 

The mark has become distinctive of the goods through applicant’s substantially exclusive and continuous use in commerce for at least the five years immediately before the date of this statement.

 

Applicant must verify this statement with a notarized affidavit or a signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20.  37 C.F.R. §2.41(b); TMEP §1212.05(d).

 

The following is a sample declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20:

 

The undersigned, being hereby warned that willful false statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §1001, and that such willful false statements and the like may jeopardize the validity of the application or document or any resulting registration, declares that the facts set forth in this application are true; all statements made of his/her own knowledge are true; and all statements made on information and belief are believed to be true.

 

_____________________________

(Signature)

 

_____________________________

(Print or Type Name and Position)

 

_____________________________

(Date)

 

If the declaration is filed electronically through TEAS, then applicant should sign the declaration by entering a “symbol” that applicant has adopted as a signature (e.g., /john doe/, /drl/, and /544-4925/).  The Office will accept any combination of letters, numbers, spaces and/or punctuation marks as a valid signature if it is placed between two forward slash (“/”) symbols.  37 C.F.R. §§2.33(d) and 2.193(c)(1)(iii); TMEP §§304.07 and 804.05.

 

 

/Carrie Achen/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 115

Phone:  (571) 272-8378

Fax:  (571) 273-9115

 

 

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.

 

LEXIS/NEXIS USFIND EVIDENCE

                                                                         108B8C

Print Request:   Selected Document(s): 7-37,39-50,56

                 

Time of Request: December 30, 2005  02:11 PM EST

 

Number of Lines: 268

Job Number:      2822:77010996

 

Client ID/Project Name: 

 

Research Information:

 

 USFIND Person Locator - Nationwide

greenall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send to:  ACHEN, CARRIE

          TRADEMARK LAW LIBRARY

          600 DULANY ST

          ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-5782

          

          

           

7. GREENALL, A L, 7327 HUNTERS RAVEN, SHAVANO PARK, TX 78249-4308, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

8. GREENALL, W J, 18400 TUOLUMNE RD, TUOLUMNE, CA 95379-9661, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

9. GREENALL, C, 116 GLENDALE AVE, LIVERPOOL, NY 13088-6422, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

10. GREENALL, ROGER K, 522 CAROLINA BACK RD, CHARLESTOWN, RI 02813-3809, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

11. GREENALL, EDWIN, 281 PO BOX, LOTHIAN, MD 20711-0281, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

12. GREENALL, PAUL, 260 BAY ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94133-1953, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

13. GREENALL, ROBER, 315 W 10TH PL APT 18, MESA, AZ 85201-2815, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

14. GREENALL, ROGER, 500 PO BOX, RICHMOND, RI 02812-0500, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

15. GREENALL, CHRISTINE, 3715 RIMVIEW DR, SANTA CLARA, UT 84765-5196, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

16. GREENALL STEPHANIE, 6501 196TH ST SW STE C, LYNNWOOD, WA 98036-5980, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

17. GREENALL, ROBERT E, 238 W PATTERSON ST, LANSFORD, PA 18232-1106, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

18. GREENALL, JOHN W, 13920 62ND CT N, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33412-1976, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

19. GREENALL, RONALD, 4806 W MINERAL KING AVE, VISALIA, CA 93291-5244, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

20. GREENALL, ANTHONY, 15134 62ND PL N, LOXAHATCHEE, FL 33470-4531, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

21. GREENALL, MARK A, 1346 S PARKWOOD ST, VISALIA, CA 93277-3491, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

22. GREENALL, HARRY, 733 ARROWOOD PL, ROUND ROCK, TX 78664-7890, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

23. GREENALL, ALAN, 3804 WOFFORD LN, SANTA FE, NM 87507-3466, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

24. GREENALL, THERESA, 116 CENTER ST, TAMAQUA, PA 18252-1921, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

25. GREENALL, ANDREA, 5826 W HILLSDALE AVE, VISALIA, CA 93291-5133, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

26. GREENALL RONALD E CPA, 4806 W MINERAL KING AVE, VISALIA, CA 93291-5244, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

27. GREENALL, FREDERICK, 21 GLENDALE DR, HORSEHEADS, NY 14845-1248, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

28. GREENALL, M N, 36 S 4TH ST APT 3, HAMBURG, PA 19526-1235, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

29. GREENALL, E, 2417 E MIFFLIN ST, MADISON, WI 53704-4964, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

30. GREENALL, SUSAN, 4890 RUCKER CHRISTIANA RD, CHRISTIANA, TN 37037-6104, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

31. GREENALL, ANTHONY, 120 WATERMILL FLS, ALPHARETTA, GA 30004-4059, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

32. GREENALL, A, 1951 STARLIGHT DR, MARIETTA, GA 30062-1843, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

33. GREENALL, L, 111 TOWER RD NE, MARIETTA, GA 30060-6993, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

34. GREENALL, JAMES, 582 PERSIMMON ST, FREEPORT, FL 32439-6787, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

35. GREENALL, MICHAEL J, 37 OKAHATCHEE CIR SE, FORT WALTON BEACH, FL 32548-5754, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

36. GREENALL, CARROLL L, 385 DI CINDY LN, MURRELLS INLET, SC 29576-7709, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

37. GREENALL, DEANNA, 1414 CEDAR ST, CHOCTAW BEACH, FL 32578-9745, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

39. GREENALL, JAMES, 1634 PECAN PARK DR, ARLINGTON, TX 76012-3030, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

40. GREENALL, CHARLES E, 1631 FREDERICKS ST, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93405-2003, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

41. GREENALL, JIM, 2162 ROHNER AVE, SIMI VALLEY, CA 93063-3850, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

42. GREENALL, JOHN, 2940 MOTLOW CREEK RD, CAMPOBELLO, SC 29322-8137, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

43. GREENALL, JOHN, 503 RR 1 BOX, WINDSOR, VT 05089-9711, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

44. GREENALL, ALLEN, 9956 BLOSSOM DR, SNOWBIRD, UT 84092-3614, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

45. GREENALL, JOHN, 503 RR 1 BOX, WINDSOR, VT 05089-9711, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

46. GREENALL, JOHN T, 1224 VILLAGE CREEK LN, MOUNT PLEASANT, SC 29464-3186, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

47. GREENALL, C & B, 103 EAGLES LANDING PKWY, CAMERON, MO 64429-8110, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

48. GREENALL, JIM A, 2162 ROHNER AVE, SIMI VALLEY, CA 93063-3850, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

49. GREENALL, M N, 115 3RD ST S APT 302, JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL 32250-6801, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

50. GREENALL, ROBERT L, 13179 CONNELL DR, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66213-3313, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

 

56. RONALD E GREENALL, 4806 W MINERAL KING AVE, VISALIA, CA 93291-5244, PERSON LOCATOR - USFIND

                                                                         108B8C

**********  Print Completed  **********

 

Time of Request:   December 30, 2005  02:11 PM EST

 

Print Number:      2822:77010996

Number of Lines:   268

Number of Pages:   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Send To:  ACHEN, CARRIE

          TRADEMARK LAW LIBRARY

          600 DULANY ST

          ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-5782