UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

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

OFFICE ACTION

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.

ISSUE/MAILING DATE: 5/18/2014

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(a), 2.65(a); TMEP §§711, 718.03.

The February 21, 2014 AAU has been approved.

Prior Pending Application Potential Refusal Advisory

Note:  This is merely an advisory section and not a requirement.

The trademark examining attorney has searched the USPTO’s database of registered and pending marks and has found no similar registered marks that would bar registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d).  TMEP §704.02; see 15 U.S.C. §1052(d).  However, a mark in a prior-filed pending application may present a bar to registration of applicant’s mark.

The effective filing date of pending U.S. Application Serial No. 86188509 and 86188557 precedes applicant’s filing date.  See attached referenced application.  If the mark in the referenced application registers, applicant’s mark may be refused registration under Trademark Act Section 2(d) because of a likelihood of confusion between the two marks.  See 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); 37 C.F.R. §2.83; TMEP §§1208 et seq.  Therefore, upon receipt of applicant’s response to this Office action, action on this application may be suspended pending final disposition of the earlier-filed referenced application.

In response to this Office action, applicant may present arguments in support of registration by addressing the issue of the potential conflict between applicant’s mark and the mark in the referenced application.  Applicant’s election not to submit arguments at this time in no way limits applicant’s right to address this issue later if a refusal under Section 2(d) issues.

Upon receipt of applicant’s response resolving the following requirement(s), action on this application will be suspended pending the disposition of U.S. Application Serial No(s). 86188509 and 86188557.  37 C.F.R. §2.83(c); TMEP §§716.02(c), 1208.02(c).

Disclaimer Requirement

Applicant must disclaim the wording “BIRD” because it merely describes an ingredient, quality, characteristic, function, feature, purpose, or use of applicant’s goods and/or services, and thus is an unregistrable component of the mark.  See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(e)(1), 1056(a); 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)); TMEP §§1213, 1213.03(a). 

The attached evidence from a dictionary shows this wording or its inflected forms means “any of a class (Aves) of warm-blooded vertebrates distinguished by having the body more or less completely covered with feathers and the forelimbs modified as wings”.  Therefore, the wording merely describes a feature, subject matter, and/or the nature of applicant’s game software and other media.

An applicant may not claim exclusive rights to terms that others may need to use to describe their goods and/or services in the marketplace.  See Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int’l, Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 1560, 21 USPQ2d 1047, 1051 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In re Aug. Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823, 825 (TTAB 1983).  A disclaimer of unregistrable matter does not affect the appearance of the mark; that is, a disclaimer does not physically remove the disclaimed matter from the mark.  See Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 978, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965); TMEP §1213. 

A “disclaimer” is a statement in the application record that an applicant does not claim exclusive rights to an unregistrable component of the mark; a disclaimer of unregistrable matter does not affect the appearance of the mark or physically remove disclaimed matter from the mark.  See Schwarzkopf v. John H. Breck, Inc., 340 F.2d 978, 978, 144 USPQ 433, 433 (C.C.P.A. 1965); TMEP §1213.  An unregistrable component of a mark includes wording that are merely descriptive of an applicant’s goods.  15 U.S.C. §1052(e); see TMEP §§1209.03(f), 1213.03 et seq.  Such words need to be freely available for other businesses to market comparable goods or services and should not become the proprietary domain of any one party.  See Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int’l, Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 1560, 21 USPQ2d 1047, 1051 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In re Aug. Storck KG, 218 USPQ 823, 825 (TTAB 1983).

The following cases further explain the disclaimer requirement:  Dena Corp. v. Belvedere Int’l Inc., 950 F.2d 1555, 21 USPQ2d 1047 (Fed. Cir. 1991); In re Brown-Forman Corp., 81 USPQ2d 1284 (TTAB 2006); In re Kraft, Inc., 218 USPQ 571 (TTAB 1983).

If applicant does not provide the required disclaimer, the USPTO may refuse to register the entire mark.  See In re Stereotaxis Inc., 429 F.3d 1039, 1040-41, 77 USPQ2d 1087, 1088-89 (Fed. Cir. 2005); TMEP §1213.01(b).

Applicant should submit a disclaimer in the following standardized format:

No claim is made to the exclusive right to use “BIRD” apart from the mark as shown.

For an overview of disclaimers and instructions on how to satisfy this disclaimer requirement online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, please go to http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/law/disclaimer.jsp.

PARTIAL Identification of Goods and/or Services Amendment Requirement

THIS PARTIAL REQUIREMENT APPLIES ONLY TO THE GOODS SPECIFIED THEREIN

The USPTO has the discretion to determine the degree of particularity needed to clearly identify goods and/or services covered by a mark.  In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d 1593, 1597 (TTAB 2014) (citing In re Omega SA, 494 F.3d 1362, 1365, 83 USPQ2d 1541, 1543-44 (Fed. Cir. 2007)).  Accordingly, the USPTO requires the description of goods and/or services in a U.S. application to be specific, definite, clear, accurate, and concise.  TMEP §1402.01; see In re Fiat Grp. Mktg. & Corp. Commc’ns S.p.A, 109 USPQ2d at 1597-98; Cal. Spray-Chem. Corp. v. Osmose Wood Pres. Co. of Am., 102 USPQ 321, 322 (Comm’r Pats. 1954). 

The identification of goods and/or services is indefinite and must be clarified.  See TMEP §1402.01.  In the identification, applicant must use the common commercial or generic names for the goods and/or services, be as complete and specific as possible, and avoid the use of indefinite words and phrases.  TMEP§§1402.01, 1402.03(a). 

The wording “Downloadable multimedia file containing artwork, text, audio, video, games, and Internet Web links relating to mobile phones and tablets” in the identification of goods and/or services is indefinite and must be clarified because the subject matter of the files are not clear.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.32(a)(6); TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.  Please see suggestions below.

The following wording in the current identification is acceptable, because it is sufficiently definite and properly classified:

            International Class 9: Computer game programs; Computer game software; Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Computer game software focusing on achieving a set of goals, positions, ownership, and credentials, and professional and social status, and good fortune necessary to succeed professionally and personally, and not referring either to a group of software for use in commerce or to a group of offices; Computer game software for personal computers and home video game consoles; Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Computer game software for use with personal computers, home video game consoles used with televisions and arcade-based video game consoles; Computer programs for video and computer games; Computer software and firmware for games of chance on any computerized platform, including dedicated gaming consoles, video based slot machines, reel based slot machines, and video lottery terminals; Computer software, namely, game engine software for video game development and operation; Computer-gaming software; Downloadable computer game programs; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; Downloadable electronic game programs; Downloadable electronic game software for use on mobile phones and tablets; Downloadable image file containing artwork, text, audio, video, games and Internet Web links relating to sporting and cultural activities; . . . ; Downloadable game software via the Internet and wireless devices; Electronic game programs; Electronic game software; Electronic game software for cellular telephones; Electronic game software for handheld electronic devices; Electronic game software for wireless devices; Game software; Games that accept virtual or monetary wagers sold as a feature of game software; Interactive game programs; Interactive game software; Interactive multimedia computer game programs; Interactive video game programs; Recorded computer game programs; Video and computer game programs; Video game cartridges; Video game cartridges and cassettes; Video game cartridges and discs; Video game discs; Video game software; Video game tape cassettes

Applicant may adopt the following identification of goods and/or services, if accurate (PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR AMENDED IDENTIFICATION IN STANDARD FONT; THE FONT STYLIZATION BELOW IS TO EMPHASIZE THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES ONLY):

            International Class 9: Computer game programs; Computer game software; Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Computer game software focusing on achieving a set of goals, positions, ownership, and credentials, and professional and social status, and good fortune necessary to succeed professionally and personally, and not referring either to a group of software for use in commerce or to a group of offices; Computer game software for personal computers and home video game consoles; Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Computer game software for use with personal computers, home video game consoles used with televisions and arcade-based video game consoles; Computer programs for video and computer games; Computer software and firmware for games of chance on any computerized platform, including dedicated gaming consoles, video based slot machines, reel based slot machines, and video lottery terminals; Computer software, namely, game engine software for video game development and operation; Computer-gaming software; Downloadable computer game programs; Downloadable computer game software via a global computer network and wireless devices; Downloadable electronic game programs; Downloadable electronic game software for use on mobile phones and tablets; Downloadable image file containing artwork, text, audio, video, games and Internet Web links relating to sporting and cultural activities; Downloadable multimedia file containing artwork, text, audio, video, games, and Internet Web links relating to mobile phones and tablets {insert field of files, e.g., “music” and/or “video game technology”}; Downloadable game software via the Internet and wireless devices; Electronic game programs; Electronic game software; Electronic game software for cellular telephones; Electronic game software for handheld electronic devices; Electronic game software for wireless devices; Game software; Games that accept virtual or monetary wagers sold as a feature of game software; Interactive game programs; Interactive game software; Interactive multimedia computer game programs; Interactive video game programs; Recorded computer game programs; Video and computer game programs; Video game cartridges; Video game cartridges and cassettes; Video game cartridges and discs; Video game discs; Video game software; Video game tape cassettes

See TMEP §1402.01.

            Amendment Guidelines

An applicant may only amend an identification to clarify or limit the goods and/or services, but not to add to or broaden the scope of the goods and/or services.  37 C.F.R. §2.71(a); see TMEP §§1402.06 et seq., 1402.07.

For assistance with identifying and classifying goods and 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.

Applicant is encouraged to telephone the assigned trademark examining attorney to resolve the issue(s) raised in this Office action.

Alternatively, applicant may expedite prosecution of this application by filing its response to this Office action online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), which is available at http://www.gov.uspto.report/teas/index.html.

/Tina H. Mai/

Trademark Examining Attorney

Law Office 117

571-272-4110

tina.mai@uspto.gov (for informal communications)

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.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED

ON 5/18/2014 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86188824

Your trademark application has been reviewed.  The trademark examining attorney assigned by the USPTO to your application has written an official letter to which you must respond.  Please follow these steps:

(1)  Read the LETTER by clicking on this link or going to http://tsdr.gov.uspto.report/, entering your U.S. application serial number, and clicking on “Documents.”

The Office action may not be immediately viewable, to allow for necessary system updates of the application, but will be available within 24 hours of this e-mail notification. 

(2)  Respond within 6 months (or sooner if specified in the Office action), calculated from 5/18/2014, using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form located at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp. 

Do NOT hit “Reply” to this e-mail notification, or otherwise e-mail your response because the USPTO does NOT accept e-mails as responses to Office actions. 

(3)  Questions about the contents of the Office action itself should be directed to the trademark examining attorney who reviewed your application, identified below. 

/Tina H. Mai/

Trademark Examining Attorney

Law Office 117

571-272-4110

tina.mai@uspto.gov (for informal communications)

WARNING

Failure to file the required response by the applicable response deadline will result in the ABANDONMENT of your application.  For more information regarding abandonment, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/basics/abandon.jsp. 

PRIVATE COMPANY SOLICITATIONS REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION:  Private companies not associated with the USPTO are using information provided in trademark applications to mail or e-mail trademark-related solicitations.  These companies often use names that closely resemble the USPTO and their solicitations may look like an official government document.  Many solicitations require that you pay “fees.” 

Please carefully review all correspondence you receive regarding this application to make sure that you are responding to an official document from the USPTO rather than a private company solicitation.  All official USPTO correspondence will be mailed only from the “United States Patent and Trademark Office” in Alexandria, VA; or sent by e-mail from the domain “@uspto.gov.”  For more information on how to handle private company solicitations, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/solicitation_warnings.jsp.