UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

 

 

 

OFFICE ACTION

 

TO AVOID ABANDONMENT, THE OFFICE MUST RECEIVE A PROPER RESPONSE TO THIS OFFICE ACTION WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE.

 

ISSUE/MAILING DATE:

 

INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION NO. 1034700

This is a PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL of the trademark and/or service mark in the above-referenced U.S. application.  See 15 U.S.C. §1141h(c).

 

WHO IS PERMITTED TO RESPOND TO THIS PROVISIONAL FULL REFUSAL:

 

Applicant may respond directly to this provisional refusal Office action if applicant is not represented by an authorized attorney.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii).  Otherwise, applicant’s authorized attorney must respond on applicant’s behalf.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(i).  However, the only attorneys who are authorized to sign responses and practice before the USPTO in trademark matters are as follows:

 

(1)  Attorneys in good standing with a bar of the highest court of any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other federal territories and possessions of the United States; and

 

(2)  Canadian agents/attorneys who represent applicants located in Canada and (a) are registered with the USPTO and in good standing as patent agents or (b) have been granted reciprocal recognition by the USPTO.

 

See 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 2.62(b), 11.1, 11.5(b)(2), 11.14(a), (c); TMEP §§602, 712.03.

 

Foreign attorneys, other than authorized Canadian attorneys, are not permitted to represent applicants before the USPTO.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.17(e), 11.14(c), (e); TMEP §602.03-.03(b).  That is, foreign attorneys may not file written communications, authorize an amendment to an application, or submit legal arguments in response to a requirement or refusal, among other things.  See 37 C.F.R. §11.5(b)(2); TMEP §§602.03(c), 608.01.  If applicant is represented by such a foreign attorney, applicant must respond directly to this provisional refusal Office action.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.193(e)(2)(ii).

 

THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PROVISIONALLY REFUSED AS FOLLOWS:

 

NO CONFLICTING MARKS NOTED

 

The Office records have been searched and there are no similar registered or pending marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d). TMEP §704.02.

 

However, the application cannot be approved for publication until the requirements set forth below are satisfactorily addressed.

 

MARK DESCRIPTION

 

Applicant must submit an accurate and concise description of the literal and design elements in the mark.  37 C.F.R. §2.37; see TMEP §§808.01, 808.02.  The following is suggested, if accurate:

 

The mark consists of the wording CONTEC and stylized brackets.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

The identification of goods contains parentheses.  Generally, parentheses and brackets should not be used in identifications.  Parenthetical information is permitted in identifications only if it serves to explain or translate the matter immediately preceding the parenthetical phrase in such a way that it does not affect the clarity of the identification, e.g., “obi (Japanese sash).”  TMEP §1402.12.    Therefore, applicant must remove the parentheses from the identification of goods and incorporate the parenthetical information into the description. 

 

The wording in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified because the nature of the goods remains unclear.  See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.  Applicant must amend the wording listed below in accordance with the guidance provided.

 

 

• arc or laser welders (for non-medical use) – indicate whether the goods are electric arc welder electric laser welders
• electric welders, namely arc welders, such as MIG-, MAG or stick welders (MMA - manual metal arc welding) – clarify what MIG and MAG and “stick” welders identify; delete overly broad wording “such as” and replace with “namely”
• microprocessor control systems for welders – indicate what the systems are comprised of
• spare parts for arc or laser welders (for non-medical use) – specify whether goods are electric welders; specify parts of welders
• arc welders such as MIG or MAG welders – indicate whether goods are electric welders; clarify what MIG and MAG identify; delete overly broad wording “such as” and replace with “namely”

 

The international classification of goods and/or services in applications filed under Trademark Act Section 66(a) cannot be changed from the classification the International Bureau assigned to the goods and/or services in the corresponding international registration.  37 C.F.R. §2.85(d); TMEP §§1401.03(d), 1904.02(b).

 

Therefore, any modification to this wording must identify goods in International Class 9 only, the classification specified in the application for these goods.

 

The following substitute wording is suggested, if accurate: 

 

Electric arc or electric laser welders for non-medical use; electric welders, namely arc welders, namely, [clarify MIG, MAG, MMA and stick welders]; microprocessor control systems for welders comprising [specify, e.g., electric control panels]; spare parts for electric arc or laser welders for non-medical use, namely, [specify spare parts], electric arc welders, namely, [clarify MIG and MAG welders]; welding torches, in International Class 9.

 

Identifications of goods can be amended only to clarify or limit the goods; adding to or broadening the scope of the goods is not permitted.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07.  Therefore, applicant may not amend the identification to include goods that are not within the scope of the goods set forth in the present identification.

 

For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and/or services in trademark applications, please see the online searchable Manual of Acceptable Identifications of Goods and Services at http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html.  See TMEP §1402.04.

 

 

 

 

 

 

/Melissa Vallillo/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 113

Phone: (571) 272-5891

Fax: (571) 273-9113

 

 

 

RESPOND TO THIS ACTION: Applicant should file a response to this Office action online using the form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm, waiting 48-72 hours if applicant received notification of the Office action via e-mail.  For technical assistance with the form, please e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.  For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned examining attorney.  Do not respond to this Office action by e-mail; the USPTO does not accept e-mailed responses.

 

If responding by paper mail, please include the following information: the application serial number, the mark, the filing date and the name, title/position, telephone number and e-mail address of the person signing the response.  Please use the following address: Commissioner for Trademarks, P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451.

 

STATUS CHECK: Check the status of the application at least once every six months from the initial filing date using the USPTO Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) online system at http://tarr.uspto.gov.  When conducting an online status check, print and maintain a copy of the complete TARR screen.  If the status of your application has not changed for more than six months, please contact the assigned examining attorney.