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: 2/13/2015

 

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.

 

SEARCH OF OFFICE’S DATABASE OF MARKS

 

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).

 

SUMMARY OF ISSUES

 

• Section 2(e)(4) Surname Refusal
• Identification of Goods
• Multiple-Class Application Requirements 

 

SECTION 2(e)(4) REFUSAL – MARK IS PRIMARILY MERELY A SURNAME

 

Registration is refused because the applied-for mark is primarily merely a surname.  Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4), 15 U.S.C. §1052(e)(4); see TMEP §1211.  The primary significance of the mark to the purchasing public determines whether a term is primarily merely a surname.  In re Kahan & Weisz Jewelry Mfg. Corp., 508 F.2d 831, 832, 184 USPQ 421, 422 (C.C.P.A. 1975); In re Binion, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009); see TMEP §§1211, 1211.01.

 

The following five factors are used to determine whether a mark is primarily merelya surname:

 

(1) Whether the surname is rare;

 

(2) Whether anyone connected with applicant uses the term as a surname;

 

(3) Whether the term has any recognized meaning other than as a surname;

 

(4) Whether the term has the structure and pronunciation of a surname; and

 

(5) Whether the term is sufficiently stylized to remove its primary significance from that of a surname.

 

See In re Binion, 93 USPQ2d 1531, 1537 (TTAB 2009); In re Benthin Mgmt. GmbH, 37 USPQ2d 1332, 1333-34 (TTAB 1995); TMEP §1211.01.

 

Please see the attached evidence from Wikipedia and House of Names, establishing the surname significance of the surname “SMITH.”  Further, the attached evidence from LexisNexis shows the applied-for mark appearing over 3.5 million times as a surname in a nationwide telephone directory of names.  Therefore, the surname is not rare.  Further, the term has the structure and pronunciation of a surname and, given the ubiquity of the surname “SMITH” in the United States, any recognized meaning other than as a surname (e.g., “blacksmith”) is overcome by the surname meaning of the term.  Finally, though the mark is presented in stylized font, the stylization is insufficient to overcome the primary significance of the mark as a surname.

 

Therefore, registration is refused as the applied-for mark is primarily merely a surname.

 

SECTION 2(f) ACQUIRED DISTINCTIVENESS

 

Applicant may seek registration on the Principal Register under Trademark Act Section 2(f) by claiming acquired distinctiveness through ownership of U.S. Registration Nos. 1189158, 1805877, 3424676.  See 15 U.S.C. §1052(f); TMEP §§1212.04 et seq.  To do so, applicant must submit the following statement, if accurate:

 

The mark has become distinctive of the goods and/or services as evidenced by ownership of U.S. Registration Nos. 1189158, 1805877, and 3424676 on the Principal Register for the same mark for related goods and/or services.

 

TMEP §1212.04(e); see 37 C.F.R. §2.41(b).

 

Although applicant’s mark has been refused registration, applicant may respond to the refusal by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration.  If applicant responds to the refusal, applicant must also respond to the requirement set forth below.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF GOODS

 

Applicant has classified “face masks for skiing, snowboarding, and motorcross” in International Class 009; however, the proper classification is International Class 028.  Therefore, applicant may respond by (1) adding International Class 028 to the application and reclassifying these goods in the proper international class, (2) deleting “face masks for skiing, snowboarding, and motorcross” from the application, or (3) deleting the remainder of the items in the identification and reclassifying the specified goods in the proper international class.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.86, 6.1; TMEP §§1403.02 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.

 

Applicant may adopt the following identifications, if accurate:

 

International Class 009: Sunglasses and spectacles; Frames for sunglasses and spectacles; Optical lenses; Sunglass lenses; Cases for sunglasses, spectacles, and goggles for sports; Goggles for sports; Replacement lenses for goggles for sports; Sports helmets; Cords and straps for sunglasses and spectacles; Camera mounts and supports

 

International Class 028: Face masks for skiing, snowboarding, and motorcross

 

An applicant may only amend an identification to clarify or limit the goods, but not to add to or broaden the scope of the goods.  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.

 

MULTIPLE-CLASS APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

 

The application identifies goods 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.

 

The fees for adding classes to an application are $325 per class when the fee is paid using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) and $375 per class when the fee is paid in a paper submission.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.6(a)(1)(i)-(ii); TMEP §§810, 1403.02(c).

 

The application identifies goods in more than one international class; therefore, applicant must satisfy all the requirements below for each international class based on Trademark Act Section 1(b):

 

(1)       List the goods and/or services by their international class number in consecutive numerical order, starting with the lowest numbered class.

 

(2)       Submit a filing fee for each international class not covered by the fee already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/tm_fee_info.jsp).  The application identifies goods that are classified in at least two classes; however, applicant submitted a fee sufficient for only one class.  Applicant must either submit the filing fees for the classes not covered by the submitted fees or restrict the application to the number of classes covered by the fees already paid.

 

See 15 U.S.C. §§1051(b), 1112, 1126(e); 37 C.F.R. §§2.32(a)(6)-(7), 2.34(a)(2)-(3), 2.86(a); TMEP §§1403.01, 1403.02(c).

 

For an overview of the requirements for a Section 1(b) multiple-class application and how to satisfy the requirements online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) form, please go to http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/law/multiclass.jsp.

 

RESPONSE GUIDELINES

 

For this application to proceed toward registration, applicant must explicitly address each refusal and/or requirement raised in this Office action.  If the action includes a refusal, applicant may provide arguments and/or evidence as to why the refusal should be withdrawn and the mark should register.  Applicant may also have other options for responding to a refusal and should consider such options carefully.  To respond to requirements and certain refusal response options, applicant should set forth in writing the required changes or statements.

 

If applicant does not respond to this Office action within six months of the issue/mailing date, or responds by expressly abandoning the application, the application process will end, the trademark will fail to register, and the application fee will not be refunded.  See 15 U.S.C. §1062(b); 37 C.F.R. §§2.65(a), 2.68(a), 2.209(a); TMEP §§405.04, 718.01, 718.02.  Where the application has been abandoned for failure to respond to an Office action, applicant’s only option would be to file a timely petition to revive the application, which, if granted, would allow the application to return to active status.  See 37 C.F.R. §2.66; TMEP §1714.  There is a $100 fee for such petitions.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.6, 2.66(b)(1).

 

ASSISTANCE

 

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. §§2.62(c), 2.191; TMEP §§304.01-.02, 709.04-.05.  Further, although the trademark examining attorney may provide additional explanation pertaining to the refusal(s) and/or requirement(s) 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.

 

 

 

/Tamara Hudson/

Examining Attorney

Law Office 104

(571) 272-2575

tamara.hudson@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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Search:	Public Records : Surname
Terms:	last-name(SMITH) maxresults(500)

 

 

Total number found: 3500660
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	SMITH, A	22 W 126TH CHICAGO, IL 60628-7309	773-568-2423
2.	SMITH, A	318 E 222ND EUCLID, OH 44123-1721	216-466-4145
3.	SMITH, A	1212 AMERICANA APT 302 MESQUITE, TX 75150-7713	469-888-0492
4.	SMITH, A	231 GLADSTONE CAMPBELL, OH 44405-1073	330-501-8222
5.	SMITH, A F	133 HERITAGE POINT SIMPSONVILLE, SC 29681-3239	864-380-1047
6.	SMITH, A J	1255 JOHNSON BRISTOL RD MCCONNELSVILLE, OH 43756-9420	740-962-6544
7.	SMITH, A	6804 KEYSTONE MANOR DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD 20747-3951	202-600-5615
8.	SMITH, A	7402 LESADA DR WINDSOR MILL, MD 21244-1669	410-265-5739
9.	SMITH, A	2107 LITTLE CREEK APT 5 LOUISVILLE, KY 40218-1846	502-718-8975
10.	SMITH, A L	306 LIVE OAK ST CONWAY, SC 29527-5652	843-248-9616
11.	SMITH, A C	2444 N NC HIGHWAY 111 PINK HILL, NC 28572-7732	252-568-4876
12.	SMITH, A P	217 OSAGE GAFFNEY, SC 29340-4336	864-488-2034
13.	SMITH, A	PO BOX 2 MADRAS, OR 97741-0002	541-475-7114
14.	SMITH, A	100 RIVERFRONT DR DETROIT, MI 48226-4500	313-877-9128
15.	SMITH, A	36092 TEEGARDEN RD SALEM, OH 44460-9421	330-337-8582
16.	SMITH, A	508 WRIGHT ATHENS, AL 35611-3040	256-226-3446
17.	SMITH, A	ATLANTA, GA 30032	404-697-1977
18.	SMITH, A	BROKEN ARROW, OK 74011	918-451-9627
19.	SMITH, A	CHICAGO, IL 60643	773-931-6189
20.	SMITH, A	EAST PROVIDENCE, RI 02914	401-435-5919
21.	SMITH, A U	EVERETT, WA 98201-9999	425-259-6776
22.	SMITH, A	HALETHORPE, MD 21227	443-575-0984
23.	SMITH, A	HAWTHORNE, NY 10532	347-938-3625
24.	SMITH, A	HOUSTON, TX 77043	832-207-9841
25.	SMITH, A	HOUSTON, TX 77043	832-322-0234
26.	SMITH, A	JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65109	573-632-4340
27.	SMITH, A	KANSAS CITY, MO 64158	816-415-8670
28.	SMITH, A	MADISON, MS 39110	601-427-5336
29.	SMITH, A	MARSHALL, TX 75670	903-742-1015
30.	SMITH, A	NORCROSS, GA 30071	404-399-7436
31.	SMITH, A	PORT SAINT LUCIE, FL 34952	772-408-0828
32.	SMITH, A	SALEM, OR 97302	503-339-7162
33.	SMITH, A	SALISBURY, MD 21801	443-521-8228
34.	SMITH, A	TEMECULA, CA 92589-9999	909-303-1466
35.	SMITH, A	WASHINGTON, DC 20001	202-710-5949
36.	SMITH, A	WESTBROOK, ME 04092	207-854-8728
37.	SMITH, AARON	782 1ST APT 20 WEST HAVEN, CT 06516-2760	203-772-1842
38.	SMITH, AARON D	11837 225TH CAMBRIA HEIGHTS, NY 11411-2113	917-418-2880
39.	SMITH, AARON	707 N 71ST EAST TULSA, OK 74115-7808	918-430-8489
40.	SMITH, AARON	151 BARNUM EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301-2401	570-476-9871
41.	SMITH, AARON	990 ESTES GURNEE, IL 60031-2220	224-735-0313
42.	SMITH, AARON	7101 N I H 35 APT 201 AUSTIN, TX 78752-3299	512-297-0618
43.	SMITH, AARON	4827 OLD COURSE DR CHARLOTTE, NC 28277-0363	704-846-7500
44.	SMITH, AARON	PO BOX 474 WALLINS CREEK, KY 40873-0474	606-664-0164
45.	SMITH, AARON	PINE ISLAND, FL 33922	239-283-0624
46.	SMITH, AARON	SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84111	801-647-3663
47.	SMITH, ABBEE D	108 N MAIN STE 200 SOUTH BEND, IN 46601-1613	574-850-4477
48.	SMITH, ABE	ARDSLEY, NY 10502	914-356-9055
49.	SMITH, ABIGAIL SAMANTHA	2478 THE WOODS E JACKSONVILLE, FL 32246-1148	954-551-7135
50.	SMITH, ABNER	PO BOX 470612 BROADVIEW HTS, OH 44147-0612	440-317-0031
51.	SMITH, ABRAHAM	15920 SE WALLACE MILWAUKIE, OR 97267-4103	971-227-3856
52.	SMITH, ABRAHAM	HOLLAND, MI 49423	616-312-8526
53.	SMITH, ADA	1005 E 13TH AUSTIN, TX 78702-1016	512-217-2400
54.	SMITH, ADA	3820 KENZIE BALCH SPRINGS, TX 75180-5011	214-704-4562
55.	SMITH, ADAM E	1839 COOPERTOWN RUSSELLVILLE, KY 42276-8916	270-792-1441
56.	SMITH, ADAM	291 IRVINE LN FRANKLIN, TN 37064-9710	615-807-2448
57.	SMITH, ADAM	1081 KEITH HINESVILLE, GA 31313-5156	912-237-7627
58.	SMITH, ADAM	93 LETHBRIDGE COPLEY, OH 44321-1308	815-739-6479
59.	SMITH, ADAM J	200 LIONEL ABITA SPRINGS, LA 70420-3000	985-867-9290
60.	SMITH, ADAM	2057 THORNHILL DR FLEMING ISLAND, FL 32003-8369	904-213-7800
61.	SMITH, ADAM		412-337-4100
62.	SMITH, ADDIE	2948 W 23RD BROOKLYN, NY 11224-2258	347-860-3851
63.	SMITH, ADELRA	109 COACH HILL GAFFNEY, SC 29340-2758	864-902-8220
64.	SMITH, ADOLPH	SYKESVILLE, MD 21784	410-552-8790
65.	SMITH, ADORA	1508 WHISTLER BEL AIR, MD 21015-4741	240-533-8284
66.	SMITH, ADRIAN H	2318 CANNON HILL SW LILBURN, GA 30047-5736	404-918-1680
67.	SMITH, ADRIAN	AUSTIN, TX 78704	512-712-0261
68.	SMITH, ADRIAN	FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301	954-627-4425
69.	SMITH, ADRIENNE G	1119 BLUFF FOREST SAN ANTONIO, TX 78248-2611	210-492-1195
70.	SMITH, ADRIENNE	657 BURTONS COVE WAY ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401-8803
71.	SMITH, ADRIENNE	2740 S PRAIRIE CHICAGO, IL 60616-2595	773-454-1994
72.	SMITH, ADRIENNE	NORCROSS, GA 30071	770-757-5273
73.	SMITH, AERONITA R	1960 CAMELOT APT 18 ORANGE, TX 77630-3048	409-670-0844
74.	SMITH, AHMED	2236 ALICE APT 302 OXON HILL, MD 20745-6550	301-281-3738
75.	SMITH, AIMEE	500 BEVERLY RD AZLE, TX 76020-4006	817-386-0733
76.	SMITH, AIMEE	7945 PARKLANE APT B NORTH CHARLESTON, SC 29418-3287	843-991-1187
77.	SMITH, AIMEE	CROWN POINT, IN 46307	219-765-2878
78.	SMITH, AL	48 BENGAL CASPIAN, MI 49915-5005	906-284-1488
79.	SMITH, AL	3135 TIDEWATER HOUSTON, TX 77045-4523	713-703-9016
80.	SMITH, ALAN	504 COLLEGE ST EMLENTON, PA 16373-9722	724-867-2469
81.	SMITH, ALAN	3808 WOOD BAKERSFIELD, CA 93309-7334	661-345-7680
82.	SMITH, ALAN D	STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281	770-507-6565
83.	SMITH, ALAYA	HOUSTON, TX 77001	713-633-6477
84.	SMITH, ALBERTA	2011 PALMYRA CHURCH RD EDINBURG, VA 22824-3417	540-984-3806
85.	SMITH, ALDEN M	WE, PA	610-657-0394
86.	SMITH, ALESHA		416-473-8714
87.	SMITH, ALESHIA	510 S 2ND ST DARBY, PA 19023-3105	610-586-3521
88.	SMITH, ALEX	10762 FOLKESTONE WOODSTOCK, MD 21163-1376	224-240-4885
89.	SMITH, ALEX	11731 MANSION PRINCESS ANNE, MD 21853-1266	443-614-3875
90.	SMITH, ALEXANDER	10600 EASTBORNE APT 9 LOS ANGELES, CA 90024-5976	310-208-3346
91.	SMITH, ALEXANDER J	PO BOX 122 PORT GIBSON, NY 14537-0122	813-651-5772
92.	SMITH, ALEXANDRA	1901 S VINE WICHITA, KS 67213-3557	620-778-8989
93.	SMITH, ALEXIS	18917 ACACIA FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 92708-6501	714-801-5474
94.	SMITH, ALEXIS	4350 W FORD CITY APT B1302 CHICAGO, IL 60652-1664	773-349-1585
95.	SMITH, ALFRED	1972 GANT DR DAYTON, OH 45414-5723	937-387-6505
96.	SMITH, ALICE L	147 CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN RD ORANGE, NH 03741-5303	603-523-9143
97.	SMITH, ALICIA	282 N 5TH NEWARK, NJ 07107-2274	908-507-9057
98.	SMITH, ALICIA	CLEVELAND, OH 44114	440-915-6440
99.	SMITH, ALICIA	INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46214	317-292-1440
100.	SMITH, ALICIA	RALEIGH, NC 27603	919-949-5367

 

 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING YOUR

U.S. TRADEMARK APPLICATION

 

USPTO OFFICE ACTION (OFFICIAL LETTER) HAS ISSUED

ON 2/13/2015 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86435043

 

Please follow the instructions below:

 

(1)  TO READ THE LETTER:  Click on this link or go to http://tsdr.uspto.gov,enter the U.S. application serial number, and click 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)  TIMELY RESPONSE IS REQUIRED:  Please carefully review the Office action to determine (1) how to respond, and (2) the applicable response time period.  Your response deadline will be calculated from 2/13/2015 (or sooner if specified in the Office action).  For information regarding response time periods, see http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/process/status/responsetime.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.  Instead, the USPTO recommends that you respond online using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) response form located at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/teas/response_forms.jsp.

 

(3)  QUESTIONS:  For questions about the contents of the Office action itself, please contact the assigned trademark examining attorney.  For technical assistance in accessing or viewing the Office action in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system, please e-mail TSDR@uspto.gov.

 

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.