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  78/705555

 

The assigned examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and determined the following.

 

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.  However, applicant must address the following issue(s).

 

DISCLAIMER

The applicant must insert a disclaimer of  GRAND SPORTS CAFE  in the application because the term merely laudatorily describes applicant’s sports café services.  Trademark Act Section 6, 15 U.S.C. Section 1056; TMEP sections 1213 and 1213.09(a)(i).

 

A properly worded disclaimer should read as follows:

 

            No claim is made to the exclusive right to use GRAND SPORTS CAFE  apart from the mark as shown.

 

Trademark Act Section 6(a), 15 U.S.C. Section 1056(a), states that the Commissioner may require the applicant to disclaim an unregistrable component of a mark.  Trademark Act Section 2(e), 15 U.S.C. Section 1052(e), bars the registration of a mark which is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive of the goods or services. Therefore, the Commissioner may require the disclaimer of a portion of a mark which, when used in connection with the goods or services, is merely descriptive or deceptively misdescriptive, or primarily geographically descriptive.  If an applicant does not comply with a disclaimer requirement, the examining attorney may refuse registration of the entire mark.  TMEP section 1213.01(b).

 

SPORTS CAFÉ is generic for applicant’s restaurant services.  The term GRAND merely laudatorily describes applicant’s sports café.  See definition of GRAND below.

 

grand (grànd) adjective

grand·er, grand·est

1.    Large and impressive in size, scope, or extent; magnificent.

2.    a. Rich and sumptuous: A grand meal was laid before them. b. Of a solemn, stately, or splendid nature.

3.    a. Dignified or noble in appearance or effect: a grand old face that bespeaks suffering but not defeat. b. Noble or admirable in conception or intent: a grand purpose. c. Lofty or sublime in character: a speech delivered in the grand style of the great orators.

4.    Wonderful or very pleasing: had a grand time.

5.    Having higher rank than others of the same category: a grand admiral.

6.    Having more importance than others; principal: the grand ballroom of a hotel.

7.    Of a haughty or pretentious nature.

8.            Including or covering all units or aspects: the grand total.[1]

 

Laudatory terms, i.e., those terms that attribute quality or excellence to goods or services, are considered descriptive terms under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); TMEP §1209.03(k).  That is, laudatory terms, phrases and slogans are nondistinctive and unregistrable without proof of acquired distinctiveness.  In re Nett Designs Inc., 236 F.3d 1339, 57 USPQ2d 1564 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (THE ULTIMATE BIKE RACK); In re Boston Beer Co. L.P., 198 F.3d 1370, 53 USPQ2d 1056 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (THE BEST BEER IN AMERICA); In re Dos Padres Inc., 49 USPQ2d 1860 (TTAB 1998) (QUESO QUESADILLA SUPREME); In re Consolidated Cigar Co., 35 USPQ2d 1290 (TTAB 1995) (SUPER BUY); General Foods Corp. v. Ralston Purina Co., 220 USPQ 990 (TTAB 1984) (ORIGINAL BLEND).

 

 

 

/John Hwang/

Trademark Attorney

LAW OFFICE 114

571-272-9452

571-273-9114 FAX

 

 

HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS OFFICE ACTION:

• ONLINE RESPONSE:  You may respond using the Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) Response to Office action form available on our website at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html.  If the Office action issued via e-mail, you must wait 72 hours after receipt of the Office action to respond via TEAS.  NOTE:  Do not respond by e-mail.  THE USPTO WILL NOT ACCEPT AN E-MAILED RESPONSE.
• 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.  NOTE:  The filing date of the response will be the date of receipt in the Office, not the postmarked date.  To ensure your response is timely, use a certificate of mailing.  37 C.F.R. §2.197.

 

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.