UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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SERIAL NO: 79/009676
APPLICANT: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: |
RETURN ADDRESS: Commissioner for Trademarks P.O. Box 1451 Alexandria, VA 22313-1451
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MARK: WINGS
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: N/A
CORRESPONDENT EMAIL ADDRESS: |
Please provide in all correspondence:
1. Filing date, serial number, mark and applicant's name. 2. Date of this Office Action. 3. Examining Attorney's name and Law Office number. 4. Your telephone number and e-mail address.
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Serial Number 79/009676
First Action
The assigned examining attorney has reviewed the referenced application and determined the following.
REFUSAL OF REGISTRATION: LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION-SECTION 2(d)
The examining attorney refuses registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d), because the applicant’s mark, when used on or in connection with the identified goods/services, so resembles the mark in U.S. Registration No. 2208191 as to be likely to cause confusion, to cause mistake, or to deceive. TMEP §§1207.01 et seq. See the enclosed registration.
Reg. No. 2208191 is WINGS (and design) for “cigars.”
The examining attorney must analyze each case in two steps to determine whether there is a likelihood of confusion. First, the examining attorney must look at the marks themselves for similarities in appearance, sound, connotation and commercial impression. In re E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 476 F.2d 1357, 177 USPQ 563 (C.C.P.A. 1973). Second, the examining attorney must compare the goods or services to determine if they are related or if the activities surrounding their marketing are such that confusion as to origin is likely. In re August Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823 (TTAB 1983); In re International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., 197 USPQ 910 (TTAB 1978); Guardian Products Co., v. Scott Paper Co., 200 USPQ 738 (TTAB 1978). TMEP §§1207.01 et seq.
A. Similarity of the Marks
The applicant’s mark is WINGS. The literal portion of the registrant’s mark is WINGS. The two marks are identical in spelling and meaning.
B. Similarity of the Goods
If the marks of the respective parties are identical or highly similar, the examining attorney must consider the commercial relationship between the goods or services of the respective parties carefully to determine whether there is a likelihood of confusion. In re Concordia International Forwarding Corp., 222 USPQ 355 (TTAB 1983). TMEP §1207.01(a). The applicant’s goods are cigarettes. The registrant’s goods are cigars. The applicant and registrant’s goods are related because they are both smoking articles.
RESPONSE
Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.
If the applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the applicant must also respond to the following informalities.
Applicant must specify its entity type and citizenship. For example, an applicant can apply as an individual, a partnership, a corporation or a joint venture. 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3); TMEP §§803.03 et seq. If applicant is an individual, then applicant must indicate his or her national citizenship for the record. 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3)(i). If applicant is a corporation or association, then applicant
must set forth the U.S. state or country (for foreign applicants only) under whose laws applicant is organized. 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(3)(ii). If applicant is a partnership or joint venture, then applicant must list the names and the national citizenship or the U.S. state or country (for foreign applicants
only) of organization or incorporation of all the general partners or joint venturers, as well as specify the state or country under whose laws the partnership or joint venture is organized. 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(3)(ii) and (iii).
/Kim Saito/
Examining Attorney, Law Office 102
571-272-9214
HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS OFFICE ACTION:
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.