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: 7/29/2015

 

 

TEAS PLUS OR TEAS REDUCED FEE (TEAS RF) APPLICANTS – TO MAINTAIN LOWER FEE, ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET, INCLUDING SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS ONLINE:  Applicants who filed their application online using the lower-fee TEAS Plus or TEAS RF application form must (1) file certain documents online using TEAS, including responses to Office actions (see TMEP §§819.02(b), 820.02(b) for a complete list of these documents); (2) maintain a valid e-mail correspondence address; and (3) agree to receive correspondence from the USPTO by e-mail throughout the prosecution of the application.  See 37 C.F.R. §§2.22(b), 2.23(b); TMEP §§819, 820.  TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants who do not meet these requirements must submit an additional processing fee of $50 per international class of goods and/or services.  37 C.F.R. §§2.6(a)(1)(v), 2.22(c), 2.23(c); TMEP §§819.04, 820.04.  However, in certain situations, TEAS Plus or TEAS RF applicants may respond to an Office action by authorizing an examiner’s amendment by telephone without incurring this additional fee. 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Search Clause

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 that Applicant Must Address

 

-        Section 2(e)(4) Refusal – Primarily Merely a Surname

-        Identification of Goods

 

 

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

 

The applicant has applied to register the mark MILAND for “Jewelry tools; jewelry tool kits; jewelry tool parts, components and accessories.”

 

 

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.

 

 

Please see the attached evidence from LEXIS®, establishing the surname significance of the surname MILAND.  This evidence shows the applied-for mark appearing at least three hundred times as a surname in a nationwide telephone directory of names.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Although “MILAND” appears to be a relatively rare surname, a rare surname may be unregistrable under Trademark Act Section 2(e)(4) if its primary significance to purchasers is that of a surname.  E.g., In re Etablissements Darty et Fils, 759 F.2d 15, 225 USPQ 652 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Giger, 78 USPQ2d 1405 (TTAB 2006); see TMEP §1211.01(a)(v).  There is no minimum number of telephone directory listings needed to prove that a mark is primarily merely a surname.  See TMEP §1211.02(b)(i); see, e.g., In re Petrin Corp., 231 USPQ 902 (TTAB 1986).

 

 

 

In addition, the attached pages from  Rhymezone and the LookWAYup Translating Dictionary evidence that the term MILAND is recognized as a surname and has no meaning other than that as a surname.

 

 

The term, MILAND has the structure and pronunciation of a surname. The fact that a term looks and sounds like a surname may contribute to a finding that the primary significance of the term is that of a surname.  In re Giger, 78 USPQ2d 1405, 1409 (TTAB 2006); In re Gregory, 70 USPQ2d 1792, 1796 (TTAB 2004); In re Industrie Pirelli Societa per Azioni, 9 USPQ2d 1564, 1566 (TTAB 1988); In re Petrin Corp., 231 USPQ 902, 904 (TTAB 1986); see TMEP §1211.01(a)(vi).

 

 

Moreover, the applied-for mark is not sufficiently stylized to remove its primary significance from that of a surname.

 

 

Accordingly, registration is refused under Section 2(e)(4) of the Trademark Act.

 

 

Although an amendment to the Supplemental Register would normally be an appropriate response to this refusal, such a response is not appropriate in the present case.  The instant application was filed under Trademark Act Section 1(b) and is not eligible for registration on the Supplemental Register until an acceptable amendment to allege use meeting the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.76 has been timely filed.  37 C.F.R. §2.47(d); TMEP §§816.02, 1102.03.

 

 

If applicant files an acceptable allegation of use and also amends to the Supplemental Register, the effective filing date of the application will be the date on which applicant met the minimum filing requirements of 37 C.F.R. §2.76(c) for the amendment to allege use.  37 C.F.R. §2.75(b); TMEP §§816.02, 1102.03.  In addition, the undersigned trademark examining attorney will conduct a new search of the USPTO records for conflicting marks based on the later application filing date.  TMEP §§206.01, 1102.03.

 

 

Although registration on the Supplemental Register does not afford all the benefits of registration on the Principal Register, it does provide the following advantages:

                               

• The registrant may use the registration symbol ®;
• The registration is protected against registration of a confusingly similar mark under Trademark Act Section 2(d);
• The registrant may bring suit for infringement in federal court; and
• The registration may serve as the basis for a filing in a foreign country under the Paris Convention and other international agreements.

 

See 15 U.S.C. §§1052(d), 1091, 1094; TMEP §815.

 

 

Although the examining attorney has refused registration, the applicant may respond to the refusal to register by submitting evidence and arguments in support of registration. If the applicant chooses to respond to the refusal to register, the applicant must also respond to the following informality.

 

 

Identification of Goods

The identification of goods is unacceptable as indefinite because it uses broad wording that could include goods in other classes.  See TMEP §§1402.01, 1402.03.

 

 

In the identification of goods, applicant must use the common commercial or generic names for the goods, be as complete and specific as possible, and avoid the use of indefinite words and phrases.  TMEP §1402.03(a).  If applicant uses indefinite words such as “accessories,” “apparatus,” “components,” “devices,” “equipment,” “materials,” “parts,” “systems,” or “products,” such words must be followed by “namely,” followed by a list of the specific goods identified by their common commercial or generic names.  See TMEP §§1401.05(d), 1402.03(a).

 

 

 

In addition, the word “kits” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified.  See TMEP §§1401.05(a), 1402.01, 1402.03.  Kits consist of a group of items that (1) share a common theme, or (2) are used to make a particular product.  See TMEP §1401.05(a).  The type of kits and the principal components will determine classification.  See id.  Therefore, applicant must amend the identification to identify more clearly the type of kits and the principal components, so as to determine the appropriate classification, using the guidelines below.  See id.

 

For kits consisting of a group of items that share a common theme, the identification should specify the theme followed by the word “comprising” and a list of the items that make up the kit, setting forth the most dominant items first.  Generally, the international class of the kit will be determined by the international class of the majority of items in the kit.  For example, “nail care kits comprising nail polish, emery boards, cotton balls for cosmetic purposes and nail clippers” are in International Class 3 because this is the international class of a majority of the items (with the only item not in International Class 3 being “nail clippers,” which is in International Class 8).

 

If no items in a shared-theme kit are more dominant than any other item, the international class for the kit itself will be determined by the first-listed item after the wording “comprising.”  For example, “baking kits comprising baking pan and cake mix” are in International Class 21 (the class for “baking pans”), and “baking kits comprising cake mix and baking pan” are in International Class 30 (the class for “cake mixes”).

 

For kits that make a particular product, the identification must specify the product being made using the following format:  “kits for making [specify item].”  Generally, the international class for this type of kit will be determined by the international class of the product being made.  For example, “kits for making bird feeders” are in International Class 21 (the class for “bird feeders”), and “kits for making clocks” are in International Class 14 (the class for “clocks”).

 

An exception to the above guidelines is kits identified as “hobby craft kits,” which are classified in International Class 28 regardless of the items comprising the kit or the product made by the kit.  An identification for these kits must either list the items in the kit after the word “comprising” (e.g., “hobby craft kits comprising wood panels, paint, paintbrushes, nails) or specify the product being made (e.g., “hobby craft kits for making bird feeders”).

 

 

Lastly, the word “tools” in the identification of goods is indefinite and must be clarified.  See TMEP §§1401.02(a), 1402.01, 1402.03.  Power-operated tools are classified in International Class 7; hand-operated tools are classified in International Class 8.  Applicant must indicate whether the goods are power operated or hand operated and amend the international classification as appropriate. 

 

 

 

Applicant must state the required clarifications and may adopt the following identification of goods format: 

 

 

Jewelry tools, namely, (specify goods by their common commercial names, e.g., Hand operated jewelry tools, namely, cutting pliers in International Class 008; ); Jewelry tool kits comprised of (specify major component parts of kits, or specify jewelry making kits in International Class 014); Jewelry tool parts, components and accessories, namely, (specify goods by their common commercial names, e.g., clasps for making jewelry in International Class 014). 

 

See TMEP §1402.01.

 

PROPER CLASSIFICATION IS DEPENDANT UPON FURTHER CLASSIFICATION OF THE GOODS

 

 

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.

 

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. 

 

 

Multiple Class Requirements

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(s) already paid (view the USPTO’s current fee schedule at http://www.gov.uspto.report/trademarks/tm_fee_info.jsp).  The application identifies goods and/or services that are classified in at least two classes; however, applicant submitted a fee(s) 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.

 

 

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.

 

 

/AKhan/

Asmat Khan

Law Office 114

(571)-272-9453

asmat.khan@uspto.gov

 

 

Search:  Public Records > Surname javascript:void(0);> Search Results Terms:  last-name(miland) maxresults(2000) ( Edit Search | New Search )

Select for Delivery or View Checked

Total number found: 314
No.	Name	Address	Phone
1.	MILAND, A SYLVESTER JR.	1852 E GLADWICK ST CARSON, CA 90746-2508	424-296-5418
2.	MILAND, ADAM	170 N STINSON NAMPA, ID 83651-2362	208-703-4938
3.	MILAND, ALAN R	1325 ROYAL OAKS DR JANESVILLE, WI 53548-6804	608-754-5745
4.	MILAND, ALISHIA		256-340-1393
5.	MILAND, AMANDA	COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016	651-769-3476
6.	MILAND, AMSEME	755 NE 173RD TER MIAMI, FL 33162-2159	305-651-7287
7.	MILAND, ANGELA M	875 NARCISSUS ST KETTLE FALLS, WA 99141-8663	509-738-4065
8.	MILAND, ANGELE JOHNSON	181 MARQUEZ MOUNT AIRY, LA 70076-2103	985-233-0542
9.	MILAND, ANNETTE	N49991 COUNTY ROAD Y ELEVA, WI 54738-9599	715-287-4442
10.	MILAND, ANNETTE CAROL	PO BOX 136 BELLE MINA, AL 35615-0136	256-340-0013

Search:	Public Records > Surname javascript:void(0);> Search Results
Terms:	last-name(miland)

 

 

Search:  Public Records > Surname javascript:void(0);> Search Results Terms:  last-name(miland) maxresults(2000) ( Edit Search | New Search )

Select for Delivery or View Checked

Total number found: 314
No.	Name	Address	Phone
111.	MILAND, JANICE	5084 BONNIE VALE CT EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701-9449	715-835-4398
112.	MILAND, JANICE R	25037 LOONS LANDING RD BOVEY, MN 55709-8560	218-245-1944
113.	MILAND, JARRED S	520 DEERVIEW DR SE LONSDALE, MN 55046-4513	507-744-3552
114.	MILAND, JASON	15 2ND S LONG PRAIRIE, MN 56347-1515	320-237-2755
115.	MILAND, JAVLE	24 2ND GENESEO, NY 14454-1208	716-243-1350
116.	MILAND, JAY E	2502 FRYKLUND DR APT 6 MENOMONIE, WI 54751-4892	715-231-4128
117.	MILAND, JEFFREY	7320 CURVUE EAU CLAIRE, WI 54703-9195	715-271-0790
118.	MILAND, JEFFREY	EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701	715-271-3891
119.	MILAND, JEFFREY	EAU CLAIRE, WI 54701	715-559-4488
120.	MILAND, JEN R	813 3RD SE STEWARTVILLE, MN 55976-1407	507-269-5463

Search:	Public Records > Surname javascript:void(0);> Search Results
Terms:	last-name(miland)

 

 

http://www.rhymezone.com/?loc=bar

Word:  Find rhymes Find near rhymes Find synonyms Find antonyms Find definition Find poetry verses Appears in definition of Find related words Find similar sounding words Find homophones Check spelling of word Match consonants only Match these letters Search in Shakespeare Search for quotations

 

 

 

 

Online Dictionaries:

 

 

 

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 7/29/2015 FOR U.S. APPLICATION SERIAL NO. 86601808

 

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 7/29/2015 (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.