UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)
OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) ABOUT APPLICANT’S TRADEMARK APPLICATION
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U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 85974946
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CORRESPONDENT ADDRESS: CLAYTON, HOWARTH & CANNON, P.C. |
CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp
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APPLICANT: Clear Image, Inc.
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CORRESPONDENT’S REFERENCE/DOCKET NO: CORRESPONDENT E-MAIL ADDRESS: |
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OFFICE ACTION
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 issues below. 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.62(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.
NO LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION FOUND
The trademark examining attorney has searched the Office’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no conflicting marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d). TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).
MARK MERELY DESCRIPTIVE
Registration is refused because the applied-for mark merely describes a feature of applicant’s services. Trademark Act Section 2(e)(1), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(1); see TMEP §§1209.01(b), 1209.03 et seq.
A mark is merely descriptive if it describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of an applicant’s services. TMEP §1209.01(b); see, e.g., DuoProSS Meditech Corp. v. Inviro Med. Devices, Ltd., 695 F.3d 1247, 1251, 103 USPQ2d 1753, 1755 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (quoting In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004)); In re Steelbuilding.com, 415 F.3d 1293, 1297, 75 USPQ2d 1420, 1421 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (citing Estate of P.D. Beckwith, Inc. v. Comm’r of Patents, 252 U.S. 538, 543 (1920)).
Applicant’s mark is “CLEARBAGS” for “design and fabrication of custom containers for others.”
Specifically, the term “BAG” means “a container or receptacle of leather, plastic, cloth, paper, etc., capable of being closed at the mouth; something resembling or suggesting such a receptacle.” See attached dictionary evidence. Because applicant’s services feature containers, the term “BAGS” is merely descriptive of a feature of applicant’s services.
Similarly, the term “CLEAR” means “transparent.” See attached dictionary evidence. Applicant’s own specimen of record shows that applicant offers transparent containers. Accordingly, the term “CLEAR” is also merely descriptive of a feature of applicant’s goods.
Although applicant’s mark combines “CLEAR” and “BAGS” into a single word, a “telescoped mark,” which consists of two or more words combined to create a single word that shares letters, is merely descriptive or generic if the individual words are descriptive or generic and if the words retain their descriptive or generic meaning within the telescoped mark. See, e.g., In re Omaha Nat’l Corp., 819 F.2d 1117, 1118, 2 USPQ2d 1859, 1860 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (holding FIRSTIER merely descriptive of banking services); In re Greenliant Sys. Ltd., 97 USPQ2d 1078, 1083 (TTAB 2010) (holding NANDRIVE generic for electronic integrated circuits, including flash memory drives); TMEP §1213.05(a)(i).
Generally, if the individual components of a mark retain their descriptive meaning in relation to the services, the combination results in a composite mark that is itself descriptive and not registrable. In re Phoseon Tech., Inc., 103 USPQ2d 1822, 1823 (TTAB 2012); TMEP §1209.03(d); see, e.g., In re King Koil Licensing Co., 79 USPQ2d 1048, 1052 (TTAB 2006); In re Associated Theatre Clubs Co., 9 USPQ2d 1660, 1663 (TTAB 1988).
Only where the combination of descriptive terms creates a unitary mark with a unique, incongruous, or otherwise nondescriptive meaning in relation to the goods is the combined mark registrable. See In re Colonial Stores, Inc., 394 F.2d 549, 551, 157 USPQ 382, 384 (C.C.P.A. 1968).
In this case, both the individual components and the composite result are descriptive of applicant’s goods and do not create a unique, incongruous, or nondescriptive meaning in relation to the services. Combining the terms, consumers would not recognize “CLEARBAGS” as a source indicator, but would rather immediately recognize the wording as describing transparent containers.
Although applicant’s services also offer containers that are not transparent, “a mark may be merely descriptive even if it does not describe the ‘full scope and extent’ of the applicant’s goods or services.” In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d 1171, 1173, 71 USPQ2d 1370, 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (citing In re Dial-A-Mattress Operating Corp., 240 F.3d 1341, 1346, 57 USPQ2d 1807, 1812 (Fed. Cir. 2001)); TMEP §1209.01(b). It is enough if a mark describes only one significant function, attribute, or property. In re The Chamber of Commerce of the U.S., 675 F.3d 1297, 1300, 102 USPQ2d 1217, 1219 (Fed. Cir. 2012); TMEP §1209.01(b); see In re Oppedahl & Larson LLP, 373 F.3d at 1173, 71 USPQ2d at 1371.
Because applicant’s services feature transparent containers, applicant’s proposed mark “CLEARBAGS” is refused for being merely descriptive under Section 2(e)(1) of the Trademark Act.
Although applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration. Applicant must also respond to the requirements set forth below:
RECITATION/CLASSIFICATION OF SERVICES
Applicant has classified “fabrication of custom container for others” in International Class 42; however, the proper classification is International Class 40. Therefore, applicant must either (1) add International Class 40 to the application and reclassify these goods and/or services in the proper international class, or (2) delete the wording “and fabrication” from the application. See 37 C.F.R. §§2.86, 6.1; TMEP §§1403 et seq. If applicant adds one or more international classes to the application, applicant must comply with the multiple-class requirements specified in this Office action.
Proper classification of services is a purely administrative matter within the sole discretion of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In re Tee-Pak, Inc., 164 USPQ 88, 89 (TTAB 1969).
Applicant may adopt the following recitation of services, if accurate:
International Class 40 – “Custom fabrication of containers for others.”
International Class 42 – “Design of custom containers for others.”
An applicant may amend a recitation of services only to clarify or limit the services; adding to or broadening the scope of the services is not permitted. 37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07 et seq.
For assistance with identifying and classifying services in trademark applications, please see the USPTO’s online searchable U.S. Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual at http://tess2.gov.uspto.report/netahtml/tidm.html. See TMEP §1402.04.
MULTIPLE CLASS ADVISORY
The application identifies services that are classified in at least two classes; however, applicant submitted a fee sufficient for only one class. In a multiple-class application, a fee for each class is required. 37 C.F.R. §2.86(a)(2); TMEP §§810.01, 1403.01.
Therefore, applicant must either (1) restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fees already paid, or (2) submit the fees for each additional class.
(1) LIST SERVICES BY INTERNATIONAL CLASS: Applicant must list the services by international class.
(2) PROVIDE FEES FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL CLASSES: Applicant must submit an application filing fee for each international class of services not covered by the fee already paid (confirm current fee information at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/tm_fee_info.jsp).
(3) SUBMIT REQUIRED STATEMENTS AND EVIDENCE: For each international class of 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 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 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 services listed in the application at least as early as the filing date of the application.”
(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.
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 services, the specimen of record is acceptable for International Classes 40 and 42 only. Applicant must submit additional specimens if different international classes are added to the application.
PRIOR REGISTRATIONS CLAIM
If applicant owns U.S. Registration Nos. 4123372 and 4251924, then applicant must submit for the application record a claim of ownership of these registrations. See 37 C.F.R. §2.36; TMEP §812. See the attached copies of the registrations. See TMEP §812.
Applicant may use the following format to claim ownership of these registrations:
Applicant is the owner of U.S. Registration Nos. 4123372 and 4251924.
If applicant has questions regarding this Office action, please telephone or e-mail the assigned trademark examining attorney. All relevant e-mail communications will be placed in the official application record; however, an e-mail communication will not be accepted as a response to this Office action and will not extend the deadline for filing a proper response. See 37 C.F.R. §2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05. Further, although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal and requirements in this Office action, the trademark examining attorney may not provide legal advice or statements about applicant’s rights. See TMEP §§705.02, 709.06.
Examining Attorney
Law Office 104
Phone - (571) 272-8856
Fax - (571) 273-8856
jason.blair@uspto.gov
TO RESPOND TO THIS LETTER: Go to http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. Please wait 48-72 hours from the issue/mailing date before using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), to allow for necessary system updates of the application. For technical assistance with online forms, e-mail TEAS@uspto.gov. For questions about the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney. E-mail communications will not be accepted as responses to Office actions; therefore, do not respond to this Office action by e-mail.
All informal e-mail communications relevant to this application will be placed in the official application record.
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 the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system at http://tsdr.gov.uspto.report/. Please keep a copy of the TSDR status screen. If the status shows no change for more than six months, contact the Trademark Assistance Center by e-mail at TrademarkAssistanceCenter@uspto.gov or 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/trademarks/teas/correspondence.jsp.