To: | SPS Commerce, Inc. (skoehler@wck.com) |
Subject: | U.S. Trademark Registration No. 4497049 - SPS - S250.22-0006 |
Sent: | 05/18/20 05:53:14 PM |
Sent As: | prg@uspto.gov |
Attachments: |
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Office Action (Official Letter) About Owner’s Trademark Registration
U.S. Registration No. 4497049
Mark: SPS
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Correspondence Address: Westman, Champlin, & Koehler, PA |
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Owner: SPS Commerce, Inc.
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Reference/Docket No. S250.22-0006
Correspondence Email Address: |
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OFFICE ACTION
The USPTO must receive the owner’s response to this letter within the time period specified below. Respond using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). A link to the appropriate TEAS response form appears below.
Issue date: May 18, 2020
The Sections 8 & 15 Combined Affidavit was received on March 16, 2020. The Section 15 portion of the Combined Affidavit can be acknowledged. However, the Section 8 portion is not accepted for the reason(s) set forth below.
SPECIMEN
When determining whether a mark is used in connection with the services in the registration, a key consideration is the perception of the user. See In re JobDiva, Inc., 843 F.3d 936, 942, 121 USPQ2d 1122, 1126 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (citing Lens.com, Inc. v. 1-800 Contacts, Inc., 686 F.3d 1376, 1381-82, 103 USPQ2d 1672, 1676 (Fed Cir. 2012)). A specimen must show the mark used in a way that would create in the minds of potential consumers a sufficient nexus or direct association between the mark and the services being offered. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(2); In re Universal Oil Prods. Co., 476 F.2d 653, 655, 177 USPQ2d 456, 457 (C.C.P.A. 1973); TMEP §1301.04(f)(ii).
To show a direct association, specimens consisting of advertising or promotional materials must (1) explicitly reference the services and (2) show the mark used to identify the services and their source. In re The Cardio Grp., LLC, 2019 USPQ2d 227232, at *2 (TTAB 2019) (quoting In re WAY Media, LLC, 118 USPQ2d 1697, 1698 (TTAB 2016)); TMEP §1301.04(f)(ii). Although the exact nature of the services does not need to be specified in the specimen, there must be something which creates in the mind of the purchaser an association between the mark and the services. In re Adair, 45 USPQ2d 1211, 1215 (TTAB 1997) (quoting In re Johnson Controls Inc., 33 USPQ2d 1318, 1320 (TTAB 1994)).>
To show a direct association, specimens showing the mark used in rendering the identified services need not explicitly refer to those services, but “there must be something which creates in the mind of the purchaser an association between the mark and the service activity.” In re The Cardio Grp., LLC, 2019 USPQ2d 227232, at *1 (TTAB 2019) (citing In re WAY Media, LLC, 118 USPQ2d 1697, 1698 (TTAB 2016)).>
In the present case, the specimen does not show a direct association between the mark and services in that the services are not referenced.
The owner may respond by submitting:
(1) A substitute specimen showing current use of the registered mark in commerce for each class of services specified in the registration; and
(2) The following statement, verified with an affidavit or signed declaration under 37 C.F.R. §2.20: “The substitute specimen was in use in commerce during the relevant period for filing the 6-year Section 8.” 37 C.F.R. §2.161(g); TMEP §1604.12(c).
Examples of specimens. Electronic specimens may be an image, such as a photograph or scanned copy, of the physical specimen. Specimens for services must show a direct association between the mark and the services and include: (1) copies of advertising and marketing material, (2) a photograph of business signage or billboards, or (3) materials showing the mark in the sale, rendering, or advertising of the services. See 37 C.F.R. §2.56(b)(2), (c); TMEP §1301.04(a), (h)(iv)(C). Any webpage printout or screenshot submitted as a specimen must include the webpage’s URL and the date it was accessed or printed. 37 C.F.R. §2.56(c).
DEFICIENCY SURCHARGE REQUIRED: The owner must submit a $100 deficiency surcharge with its response to this Office action. . 37 C.F.R. §§2.6, 2.164(a)(1); TMEP §1604.17(a).
How to respond. Click to file a Response to Post-Registration Office action.
Direct questions about this Office action to the Post Registration staff member below.
/Val Stevens/Trademark Specialist
Office of Post Registration
571-272-9228
val.stevens@uspto.gov
RESPONSE GUIDANCE