UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 85156345
MARK: RICHARD
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: |
CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageD.htm
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APPLICANT: A. RICHARD TOOLS CO.
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: |
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STRICT DEADLINE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER
TO AVOID ABANDONMENT OF APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION, THE USPTO MUST RECEIVE APPLICANT’S COMPLETE RESPONSE TO THIS LETTER WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE ISSUE/MAILING DATE BELOW.
The referenced application has been reviewed by the assigned trademark examining attorney. Applicant must respond timely and completely to the issue(s) below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62, 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
The identification of goods and/or services is indefinite and must be clarified. Applicant must specify the individual goods in the identification using common commercial terms. If there is no common commercial or generic name, applicant must describe the product and intended consumer as well as its main purpose and intended uses. See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.
Please note the following specific issues:
- Tool handles and poles are generally classified in Class 6 if metallic, and Class 20 if non-metallic.
- Most buckets, including paint buckets, are classified in Class 21. Grids fitted for use on paint buckets are classified with buckets.
Applicant may adopt the following identification of goods and/or services, if accurate:
CLASS 6: metal tool handles, namely, extension poles for paint applicators; metal tool handles, namely, extension pole adaptors {specify function, e.g., for paint applicators}
CLASS 16: Paint accessories, namely, paint roller covers, paint trays; {specify function of ‘cage frames’, e.g., paint roller parts}, namely, roller cage frames and plastic cage frames; trim wheels kit replacement pads {specify function, e.g., for paint applicators}; painter's mitts; {specify type, e.g., paint brushes}, namely, trim brushes, artist paint brushes, paint brushes; {specify type, e.g., paint rollers}, namely, corner rollers, paint pads, fitted plastic liners for paint trays
CLASS 20: non-metal tool handles, namely, extension poles for paint applicators; non-metal tool handles, namely, extension pole adaptors {specify function, e.g., for paint applicators}
CLASS 21: paint bucket grids, namely, {specify nature of the goods, e.g., grids for removing excess paint from paint rollers, specifically designed for use with buckets}
See TMEP §1402.01.
Although identifications of goods and/or services may be amended to clarify or limit the goods and/or services, adding to or broadening the scope of the goods and/or services 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 and/or services that are not within the scope of the goods and/or services 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.
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS/SERVICES
MULTIPLE – CLASS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
(1) LIST GOODS AND/OR SERVICES BY INTERNATIONAL CLASS: Applicant must list the goods and/or services by international class;
(2) PROVIDE FEES FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL CLASSES: Applicant must submit an application filing fee for each international class of goods and/or services not covered by the fee(s) already paid (confirm current fee information at http://www.uspto.gov, click on “View Fee Schedule” under the column titled “Trademarks”); and
(3) SUBMIT REQUIRED STATEMENTS AND EVIDENCE: For each international class of goods and/or services, applicant must also submit the following:
(a) DATES OF USE: Dates of first use of the mark anywhere and dates of first use of the mark in commerce, or a statement that the dates of use in the initial application apply to that class. The dates of use, both anywhere and in commerce, must be at least as early as the filing date of the application.;
(b) SPECIMEN: One specimen showing the mark in use in commerce for each international class of goods and/or services. Applicant must have used the specimen in commerce at least as early as the filing date of the application. If a single specimen supports multiple international classes, applicant should indicate which classes the specimen supports. Examples of specimens for goods are tags, labels, instruction manuals, containers, photographs that show the mark on the actual goods or packaging, or displays associated with the goods at their point of sale. See TMEP §§904.03 et seq. Examples of specimens for services are signs, photographs, brochures, website printouts, or advertisements that show the mark used in the actual sale or advertising of the services. See TMEP §§1301.04 et seq.;
(c) STATEMENT: The following statement: “The specimen was in use in commerce on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the application at least as early as the filing date of the application.”; and
(d) VERIFICATION: Applicant must verify the statements in 3(a) and 3(c) (above) in an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20. Verification is not required where (1) the dates of use for the added class are stated to be the same as the dates of use specified in the initial application, and (2) the original specimens are acceptable for the added class(es).
See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(a), 1112, 1127; 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(5), 2.34(a)(1), 2.56(a), 2.71(c), 2.86(a), 2.193(e)(1); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).
With respect to the specimen requirement in 3(b) above in which a specimen is required for each international class of goods and/or services, the specimen(s) of record is acceptable for International Class 16 only. Applicant must submit additional specimens if different international classes are added to the application.
The filing fee for adding classes to an application is as follows:
(1) $325 per class, when the fees are submitted with a response filed online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html; or
(2) $375 per class, when the fees are submitted with a paper response.
37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(i)-(a)(1)(ii); TMEP §810.
Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 3039024 and 3633678.
/Lief Martin/
Law Office 112
Examining Attorney
Office: 571-272-3434
Email: lief.martin@uspto.gov
TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Use the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form at http://teasroa.gov.uspto.report/roa/. Please wait 48-72 hours from the issue/mailing date before using TEAS, to allow for necessary system updates of the application. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov.
WHO MUST SIGN THE RESPONSE: It must be personally signed by an individual applicant or someone with legal authority to bind an applicant (i.e., a corporate officer, a general partner, all joint applicants). If an applicant is represented by an attorney, the attorney must sign the response.
PERIODICALLY CHECK THE STATUS OF THE APPLICATION: To ensure that applicant does not miss crucial deadlines or official notices, check the status of the application every three to four months using Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) at http://tarr.gov.uspto.report/. Please keep a copy of the complete TARR screen. If TARR shows no change for more than six months, call 1-800-786-9199. For more information on checking status, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/process/status/.
TO UPDATE CORRESPONDENCE/E-MAIL ADDRESS: Use the TEAS form at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/eTEASpageE.htm.