UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

 

 

SUSPENSION NOTICE:  NO RESPONSE NEEDED

 

ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 6/22/2011

 

 

The trademark examining attorney is suspending action on the application for the reason(s) stated below.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.67; TMEP §§716 et seq. 

 

The USPTO will periodically conduct a status check of the application to determine whether suspension remains appropriate, and the trademark examining attorney will issue as needed an inquiry letter to applicant regarding the status of the matter on which suspension is based.  TMEP §§716.04, 716.05.  Applicant will be notified when suspension is no longer appropriate.  See TMEP §716.04.

 

No response to this notice is necessary; however, if applicant wants to respond, applicant should use the “Response to Suspension Inquiry or Letter of Suspension” form online at http://teasroa.gov.uspto.report/rsi/rsi.

 

The examining attorney has searched the Office records and has found no similar registered mark that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).  TMEP §704.02.

 

Action on this application is suspended pending the disposition of:

 

            - Application Serial No(s). 85000123 and 85000128

 

Since applicant's effective filing date is subsequent to the effective filing date of the above-identified application(s), the latter, if and when it registers, may be cited against this application in a refusal to register under Section 2(d) of the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).  See 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq.  A copy of information relevant to this pending application(s) is attached.

 

Various alcoholic beverages have been shown to be related goods for purposes of a Trademark Act Section 2(d) analysis. In re Salierbrau Franz Sailer, 23 USPQ2d 1719 (TTAB 1992) (holding CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS for beer likely to be confused with CRISTOBAL COLON & design for sweet wine).

 

In addition, see Fruit Industries, Ltd. v. Ph. Schneider Brewing Co., 146 F.2d 310, 46 USPQ 487 (Commr. of Patents 1940) (La Fiesta for beer likely to cause confusion with La Fiesta for wine) and Krantz Brewing Corporation v. Henry Kelly Importing & Distributing Co. Inc., 215 F.2d 284, 96 USPQ 219 (Patent Office Examiner in Chief 1953) (Old Dutch for wine likely to cause confusion with Old Dutch for beer).  Finally, both beer and wine may be found in the same outlets, such as supermarkets and local liquor stores.

 

Applicant may submit a request to remove the application from suspension to present arguments related to the potential conflict between the relevant application(s) or other arguments related to the ground for suspension.  TMEP §716.03.  Applicant's election not to present arguments during suspension will not affect the applicant's right to present arguments later should a refusal in fact issue.  If a refusal does issue, applicant will be afforded 6 months from the mailing or e-mailing date of the Office action to submit a response.  15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.62.

 

 

 

/Tricia Sonneborn/

United States Patent & Trademark Office

Trademark Examining Attorney

Law Office 110

phone (571) 272-9225

tricia.sonneborn@uspto.gov

 

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.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

USPTO LETTER (AN OFFICE ACTION) HAS ISSUED ON 6/22/2011 FOR

SERIAL NO. 85291632

 

Please follow the instructions below:

 

TO READ OFFICE LETTER: Click on this link or go to http://portal.gov.uspto.report/external/portal/tow and enter the application serial number to access the Office letter

 

PLEASE NOTE: The Office letter may not be immediately available but will be viewable within 24 hours of this e-mail notification.

 

HELP: For technical assistance in accessing the Office correspondence, please e-mail TDR@uspto.gov.  Please contact the assigned examining attorney with questions about the Office letter.